Maliki Implicitly Accuses Saudi of Backing ISIL for 'Sectarian' Reasons
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday accused neighboring states of backing a powerful jihadist group that is operating in the country, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
"Some states do not want ISIL, especially on their territory, but they want ISIL in Iraq" for "sectarian" reasons, Maliki said in an interview broadcast on Iraqiya state television.
"We know the details of ISIL and its foreign ties and the ties of states to it, and the funding that comes to it," Maliki said.
The premier was apparently referring to Sunni-majority Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Iraq's neighbor to the south.
Militants in Iraq have been bolstered by widespread discontent among members of the country's Sunni Arab minority, who say they are marginalized and unfairly targeted with heavy-handed security measures, and by the bloody civil war in neighboring Syria.
In a sign of the reach of militants and the weakness of security forces, the city of Fallujah -- just a short drive from Baghdad -- and shifting parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi, to its west, have been held by anti-government fighters since early January.
Maliki said in the interview that except for Fallujah, Anbar province was under government control, though militants in fact hold areas outside the city.
Of the situation in Fallujah, he said: "God willing, it will end soon."
Nationwide, violence has killed more than 710 people since the beginning of the month, and over 1,700 so far this year, according to Agence France Presse figures based on security and medical sources.
27 February 2014, 22:36
56
noooooo!! the honest boys from nusra and al qaeda said ISIL was created by bashar to kill as many shiites and alawites as possible, to counter peaceful protesters. logical.
28 February 2014, 01:42
22
ISIL is killing the opposition and not the regime. As matter of facts, the same Maliki accused Syria of aiding the same rebels in Iraq not so long ago.
28 February 2014, 10:16
21
my apologies FT, i wasnt focusing enough in the last brainwashing session -_-
27 February 2014, 23:20
33
Yaane,I don't get it. You have Iran and they have KSA. If you don't like the current situation in your country, do your best to bridge the differences that exist in Islam created by both sides, learn to be tolerant and how to live and prosper together. If you find it very difficult to compromise, find another religion that you both agree on in principal. If that doesn't work, find another Saddam Hussein and leave Lebanon alone.
28 February 2014, 02:22
21
"We know the details of ISIL and its foreign ties and the ties of states to it, and the funding that comes to it," Maliki said.
AFP 2009 09 01- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Monday that 90 percent of foreign terrorists who infiltrate Iraq did so via Syria.
August 25, 2009
Maliki blames Syria for last week's attacks
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hinted today that Syria was responsible for last week’s bombings in Baghdad. In an unusually belligerent tone Maliki added that Iraq could respond in kind but refrains from doing so because of “our values and keen interest to reach an agreement with this country to get rid of those elements they host”.
28 February 2014, 02:26
32
Accusing Suleiman of being a Saudi puppet is like accusing the Pope of being a Takfiri. On another note,my question to you karim is "would you mind if Suleiman was an Iranian Puppet or agent"?
28 February 2014, 02:56
11
Mr. Maliki, you had the perfect opportunity to bring the country and the various cultures together, but you had to go and build your own sandbox with Iranian label and bully the other kids in the playground. Living on Earth is both beautiful and complicated, but it is a privilege which a big chunk from your region should not so easily enjoy.
28 February 2014, 07:59
12
Maliki is telling the truth about these devilish barbarians.
