UN chief in Iraq backs fight against Islamic State group
BAGHDAD — The U.N. chief offered support for Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State group during a visit to Baghdad on Thursday, even as the country faces a growing humanitarian crisis following the months-long battle for Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.
At a joint press conference with Antonio Guterres, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraqi forces were doing their “utmost” to protect civilians in the fight against IS and accused the extremists of intentionally putting civilians in harm’s way while also “intensifying their propaganda machine to spread rumours.”
Guterres expressed support for Iraq’s fight, condemned IS crimes against civilians and pledged continued aid for the some 3 million Iraqis displaced by the fighting.
Hours earlier, as the secretary-general arrived in the Iraqi capital, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a suicide truck bombing in Baghdad the previous night that killed 15 people and wounded 45.