MESOP SUMMARY : ISIS IN IRAQ TROUGH TEHRAN EYES

28.6.2014 – Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard was quoted by ISNA as saying, “Iraq is Iran’s Islamic alley and the arrogant powers, especially the Baathists are trying to pit Iran against Iraq.” Mehr News Agency reports that during Friday prayers in Najaf, Sheikh Abdul Mehdi al-Karbalai, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani  warned about the “ongoing project to break-up Iraq” saying, “Israel has always sought the project of breaking Iraq up and now more than ever Israel supports it.”According to Fars News Agency, “5,000 people volunteered in Najaf to fight ISIS.”

Fars News Agency also reports, “Rashad, which is considered to be the southernmost point of Kirkuk has become the boundary between the Iraqi Kurdistan and ISIS.” The report goes on to say, “There are Chechen snipers in this area which is heavily populated with Baathists who also cooperate with ISIS. Even the children of the area sit along the side of the road and write down the licenses plate numbers of unfamiliar cars for ISIS.”  

A hard line Kayhan editorial argues, “The King of Saudi Arabia is panicking now that ISIS is being pushed back,” and that “the Saudi King now fears that ISIS influence will reach Saudi soil.”