Iraqi Prime Minister, Pompeo Discuss Fight Against IS in Southeast Syria - Statement
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed on Wednesday during a phone conversation the fight against remaining terrorists from the Islamic State terror group (IS, outlawed in Russia) in southeastern Syria, the prime minister's press service said in a statement
"The parties discussed the recent developments in the anti-IS fight near the Iraqi-Syrian border and their impact on Iraq as well as pointed out the importance of cooperation between all the parties in order to compensate Iraq's human and material losses as a result of the war against IS in accordance with the UN resolutions and international regulations, as well as discussed economic problems, strengthening Iraq's capacities and its independence," the statement said.
The parties also pointed out the legal nature of the US-led coalition's presence in Iraq.
"The goal of the coalition is to fight IS, train Iraqi forces ... The coalition is operating in Iraq with consent of the Iraqi authorities," the statement added.
Last month, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the start of an operation aimed at liberating the village of Baghuz, which is located at the border with Iraq and remains, according to the militias, the last settlement held by IS in the region.