Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has slammed the latest wave of terror attacks in Iraq amid major gains in the country, saying such moves stem from terrorists’ desperation and frustration.
“There is no doubt that these events are a result of the helplessness and frustration of terrorists and their allies due and as a result of big and successive victories gained by the [Iraqi] government, nation, armed forces and Hashd al-Sha’abi on the political arena and battlefield in the fight against Takfiri terrorism,” Larijani said in a message to Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri on Friday.
He added that such great achievements herald a bright future for the Iraqi people.
The top Iranian parliamentarian once again emphasized that the Islamic Republic’s core policy is to strengthen Iraq’s security and preserve the country’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.
Larijani expressed sympathy with the Iranian survivors of the terrorist attack and called on the authorities to take swift action to probe into the issue and treat the wounded.
More than 84 people, including at least 11 Iranians, were killed and 93 others injured in twin gun and car bomb attacks striking a restaurant near the city of Nasiriyah, the capital of Iraqi southern province of Dhi Qar, on Thursday.
Local officials say the death toll could rise due to the critical condition of some of the wounded.
Hours after the attack, Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for both attacks in the southern Iraqi city. A statement on the terrorist group’s Amaq news agency said both attacks were carried out by Daesh terrorists.
According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 125 Iraqi civilians lost their lives, and 188 others were injured as a result of terrorist attacks and other acts of violence across Iraq in August.
Iraqi army soldiers and pro-government fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, are engaged in joint operations to win back militant-held areas of the country.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on August 31 that the northern city of Tal Afar and the entire Nineveh province had been purged of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.