NEW YORK, September 9 (RIA Novosti) – NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has welcomed the new Iraqi government as a step towards tackling the Islamic State (ISIS) militants that have declared a caliphate across swathes of Iraq and Syria.
“I encourage all Iraqi political leaders to stand behind the new government to ensure it addresses the legitimate interests and aspirations of all Iraqis,” Rasmussen said.
“Their support will be essential to defeat the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, which poses a grave threat to the Iraqi people, to the wider region, and to our nations,” the Secretary General added.
On Monday, the Iraqi parliament approved the appointment of new members of the cabinet of ministers, headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Later in the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Ban said “the United Nations looks forward to working with the new Government of Iraq in its efforts to serve all Iraq's communities while confronting major challenges.”
Iraq was confronted with the ISIS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS or ISIL), in June, when the radical Sunni group, which has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012, became active in Iraq’s northern and western regions.
In August, the United States started launching airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq.
On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama is set to announce his strategy for defeating the IS, which has become infamous for its brutality and commitment to radical Islam.
