Assad Is a Magnet for Jihadists
As Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham or ISIS is gaining ground and holding more territory for themselves, many people started to ask the origin of the notorious insurgent group who are sowing terror in the Middle Easter country.
In an interview with Kim Ghattas of BBC, US Secretary of State John Kerry pointed out that President Assad is one of the the principal reasons that ISIS exists.
Secretary Kerry pointed out that President Assad is a magnet for jihadists and foreign fighters from around the world, and that’s why the militant groups are conglomerating in Syria and spreading their tentacles out.
Even with the report that President Assad is fighting against ISIS, Secretary Kerry urged the Syrian president to declare that he is not going to continue to serve, he will work for a transition government, and he will end the crisis of Syria.
Secretary Kerry Reiterates a United Government to End the Turmoil in Iraq
When asked about possible solutions to end the political strife in Iraq, Secretary Kerry pointed out that the crisis must be resolved by the Iraqis themselves led by the new government.
The Iraqis have to form a government to tackle the country’s political and security crisis.
In addition, Secretary Kery reiterated the statement by Presdent Obama, who emphasized that a united Iraq is a stronger Iraq and it is very, very important for that unity to be shown now to deal with the internal political crisis as well as the security crisis.
US Concerned With the Political Crisis in Iraq
Secretary Kerry said President Obama is deeply concerned about the political situation in Iraq.
President Obama has said that without the formation of a government, without an adequate transformative decision by the leaders of Iraq, anything that the United States or allies or friends would do to try to fight back, is going to be limited, if not impossible.
“You need a competent, unified government that is prepared.” – Secretary Kerry
It is a first step for the Iraqis to be united. Then, Iraq must reconstitute the military with the will of the political leaders.
Then, the new leaders have to lay out a strategy to expel ISIS.
Secretary Kerry underlined that it is simply unacceptable to have a terrorist organization grabbing territory and challenging the legitimacy of governments and then challenging neighboring countries externally with acts of terror.
ISIS Insurgents Sow Terror in Iraq
Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham or ISIS carried out a savage massacre in four villages in Iraq, killing 40 people.
According to reports, more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of violence earlier this month in Iraq.
ISIS attacked villages and fired on fleeing civilians. The militants were armed with machine guns and waving the black flag of ISIS.
In addition, the ISIS militants continue to bring terror in the northern province of Tikrit and the Sunni village of Al Alam earlier this month as well.
