China offers military assistance to Iraq in ISIL fight
This
file photo shows Takfiri ISIL militants after allegedly seizing an
Iraqi army checkpoint in Iraq’s northern province of Salahuddin.
Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:27PM GMT
Iraqi
Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari says China has extended an offer to
help Baghdad fight the Takfiri ISIL militants by carrying out its own
airstrikes against the terrorists.
Jaafari stated that his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi made the offer
during a UN anti-terrorism meeting in New York back in September,
noting, however, that Beijing will not join the US-led military
coalition against ISIL.“[Mr Wang] said, our policy does not allow us to get involved in the international coalition,” the Iraqi foreign minister said.
He added, “I welcomed this initiative. I told him... we are ready to deal with the coalition and also co-operate with countries outside this coalition.”
The top Iraqi diplomat further noted that what his country needs now in the fight against ISIL militants is more munitions. “Our problem is with the supply of arms and weaponry,” Jaafari said.
He emphasized that Baghdad does not want foreign soldiers on Iraqi soil due to concerns that it would lead to sentiments against the foreigners among Iraqi people.
The ISIL terrorists launched an offensive in Iraq in June and took control of the country’s second largest city, Mosul, before sweeping through parts of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.
The Takfiri militants have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations and crucifixions, against all Syrian and Iraqi communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
Senior Iraqi officials have repeatedly blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some other Persian Gulf Arab states for the growing terrorism in their country.
MP/HJL/KA