Japan, Iraq to Cooperate in Fight Against Terrorism

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said that Tokyo will provide nonmilitary support for Iraq's fight against terrorism, as Baghdad stands at the front line of the fight against the Islamic State.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim Jafari have agreed to to cooperate in fight against terrorism, the Japanese media reported Tuesday.

"Tokyo will provide nonmilitary support for Iraq's fight against terrorism, as Baghdad stands at the front line of the fight against the Islamic State," Kishida told Jafari, who is currently on visit in Japan, as quoted by Kyodo news agency.

According to the agency, Tokyo promised to continue providing Iraq with humanitarian aid to help stabilize the situation in the country.

The Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist group controlling vast territories of Syria and Iraq is currently considered to be one the main threats to global security. In addition, the ISIL jihadists are trying to expand their influence over North Africa, in particular in Libya.

A US-led international coalition of around 60 nations has been launching airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria since August 2014. Japan is part of the coalition, providing humanitarian aid to Iraq.