Iraqi prime minister censures UAE minister’s insults to volunteer troops

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has denounced comments by the UAE foreign minister about volunteer forces fighting Takfiri groups, saying they amounted to meddling in Iraq's internal affairs.

Abadi reiterated support for the Hashd al-Sha'abi (Popular Mobilization) units, saying they have fought alongside the army against ISIL terrorists, Iraq’s al-Sumaria news channel reported on Friday.

The remarks came after UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan compared Iraq's volunteer forces to the ISIL and al-Nusra Front, saying they must be eliminated like the Takfiri militants.

Abadi expressed shock over the analogy, saying the popular units are affiliated with his office and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

The volunteer forces have liberated several ISIL-held areas and are helping counter the threat of terrorism, said the Iraqi premier.

He also called on Persian Gulf Arab states to support Baghdad in its anti-terror battle instead of adopting such stances.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmad Jamal also said the Emirati foreign minister's remarks constituted an obvious meddling in his country’s internal affairs and a clear insult to security and military organizations.

ME