Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.2
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Iraq needs weapons to fight the militants of the terrorist organization calling itself the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, or ISIL), Turkish Anadolu agency quoted Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari as saying on Oct.2.
He said the Iraqi government hasn't asked for deploying any foreign military base in the country's territory for fighting against the IS.
Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Iran, which doesn't participate in the international coalition, assists Iraq in combating the militants, adding that China has also promised to support the country in this issue.
The 'Islamic State' was created in 2003 in Iraq. In 2004-2006, the organization was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and consisted of 11 radical Islamist groups, which had close ties to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Following the start of military confrontation in Syria in 2013 between the armed opposition and the government forces, the IS penetrated the country.
After this, the terrorist organization said it refuses to take the oath of Al-Qaeda and declared a holy war against all groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as the Syrian government forces.
Strengthening of the IS in Syria allowed it to return to Iraq, deploying military actions against government forces there.
In late June, the IS announced about the creation of the "Islamic Caliphate" on the territories under its control in Iraq and Syria. In turn, Iraqi authorities asked the international community for help in combating the IS.