SOCHI (Sputnik) – Russia does not yet intend to evacuate its consulate general in the Iraqi city of Erbil due to the ongoing operation to liberate the city of Mosul, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Tuesday.
"No. Everything is calm in Erbil, we shall hope that everything will remain calm," he said answering a corresponding question.
On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to recapture Mosul from Daesh, a jihadist group outlawed in Russia, with the help of airstrikes by the US-led international coalition. Ambassador Sanaei said the Iranian government stood by Iraq and believed a strong government in Baghdad benefited the entire region.
