Iran has pulled military advisers out of Iraq: Diplomat

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran withdrew all its military advisers from Iraq after the threat posed to the country by Daesh was largely neutralized, Iraj Masjedi, Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, said Friday.

Masjedi was quoted by Iran’s ISNA news agency as saying that Tehran had pulled its advisers from Iraq in light of its “victory” last year against the notorious terrorist group.

According to the ambassador, Iranian advisers were initially sent to next-door Iraq to support that country’s counter-terrorism efforts against Daesh.

Masjedi also criticized the U.S. for its continued military presence in Iraq.

Late last year, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh's presence in the country had been all but destroyed following a three-year conflict with the Iraqi army that ended with the fall of Daesh-held Mosul.