
Iraqi PM Abadi hails ‘acceleration of support’ against ISIS
The premier said there were enough fighters on the ground but they needed arms and equipment to defeat the militants
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said Monday there had been a recent “acceleration of support” from the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.
In an interview with the BBC, Abadi said there were enough fighters on the ground but they needed arms and equipment to defeat the militants.
“I was a bit frustrated in my first three months of being a prime minister because of the slowness of this support but I’ve seen in the last probably four weeks, five weeks, there is an acceleration of the support,” Abadi added.
“I think the air bombing and the air campaign has increased in its intensity and its quality.”
ISIS, has seized swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq and imposed an extreme interpretation of Islam in the areas under its control.
The international air campaign against ISIS was launched in Iraq in August and expanded to Syria the following month.
There have been over 2,000 air strikes on the militants so far.
Also Read
-
Valentine’s Day in Iraq: Baghdad turns red, Najaf shuns it
-
Report: ISIS chief Baghdadi’s uncle arrested in Iraq
-
ISIS targeted in 13 airstrikes in Iraq, Syria
-
In battle for Kobane, U.S. crews recount heavy bombing
-
Iran commander Suleimani says ISIS ‘nearing end’
-
Prosecutions of suspected militants double in Morocco