Iraqi Prime Minister: Both the West and Iran are Helping Against ISIS

Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, stated that both the West and Iran are assisting in the fight against the former 'Islamic State' or 'ISIS'. On Friday, January 23, during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he noted that while the West has sometimes been slow to provide assistance in combating this group, this effort has accelerated in recent weeks. According to Reuters, Haider al-Abadi added that simultaneously, Iran has sent weapons, including ammunition and arms, to Iraq to fill the gap caused by the slow receipt of aid from the U.S. and the West, with 'a significant amount of it being free' and payment for part of it 'to be deferred'. Haider al-Abadi also responded to a question regarding Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, in the fight against the 'Islamic State', saying, 'We respect him and the Iranian regime'. However, the Prime Minister of Iraq denied the direct presence of Iranian soldiers on Iraqi soil in the past or present. Iran has confirmed its military presence in Iraq to assist in the fight against ISIS but claims that they have an 'advisory' role. Reports have also emerged regarding Qassem Soleimani's direct presence in Iraq, which Iran has not officially confirmed. The UN Security Council placed Qassem Soleimani on its sanctions list in 2007. U.S. officials have stated that they are closely monitoring Iran's operations in Iraq and see no contradiction between these operations to assist Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces against ISIS and the U.S.-led coalition's operations for the same purpose under current conditions, although there is no coordination between the two sides. Meanwhile, reports indicate an escalation of coalition attacks on areas controlled by the 'Islamic State' around Mosul in northern Iraq since last week. The Associated Press, citing some U.S. military officials, reported that operations to retake the city of Mosul from the 'Islamic State' are expected to begin later this year, which is why attacks aimed at destroying and weakening the group's supply and communication lines have intensified before that time. John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, confirmed on January 23 the intensification of airstrikes around Mosul, stating that simultaneously, training for Iraqi forces and moderate rebels opposing Bashar al-Assad in Syria to combat the 'Islamic State' is ongoing, but defeating this group will take time. General Kirby reported that only one percent of the areas under ISIS control in northern Iraq has been retaken, with a large portion still remaining in the hands of this group.