Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 22
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said that Iran is ready to send military equipment and weapons to Iraq.
"We are ready to send weapons legally if Iraqi government demands," Firouzabadi said, Iran's Fars news agency reported Nov. 22.
The security of Iran and Iraq is not detachable, the commander said, adding some "experienced" Iranian commanders are currently in Iraq to advise the country's army in fighting against the IS ('Islamic State') group.
The commander also touched Iran's aids to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq saying the sending of aids was coordinated with Iraqi central government.
Earlier in September, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that it there were no Iran's assistance, the KRG would have been occupied by the IS group.
"Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force himself with only 70 people prevented the IS from occupying the city of Arbil," Hajizadeh said.
Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected reports about the presence of Iranian military forces in Iraq.
Some KRG media have underscored the significant role of Iranian forces in fighting against the IS. The media reports said Iranian forces have a decisive presence on the battlefield.
The Quds Force, the external-operations arm of the IRGC, has been involved for years in training Iraqi Shiite militias. It has also long worked with Hezbollah in Lebanon and has been reportedly helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the fight against the opposition in that country's civil war.