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Iran supports Iraq to liberate Mosul region: spokesman

Xinhua, October 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran vowed to support Iraqi government in its move to liberate the northern city of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) militants, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said here on Monday.

"We support any campaign by the Iraqi government against terrorists to drive them out of the country," Qasemi was quoted as saying.

"As we have repeatedly announced, we will stand by the Iraqi government and nation until Iraq's full liberation (from terrorists) and the establishment of stability in the country," he said.

However, Iran respects Iraq's territorial integrity and national sovereignty and has no intention of interfering in its internal affairs, he added.

Iraqi security forces on Monday launched an operation to push out IS militants from a rugged area along the border between the central provinces of Salahudin and Diyala, a security source said. Endit