The Prime Minister, Mohamed Shiaa Al-Sudani, announced today, Monday, Iraq's response to the call of the highest religious authority to alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people following the Israeli aggression.
In a statement received by "Al-Awwal," Al-Sudani said, "In light of the developments in brotherly Lebanon, Iraq—government and people—stands for justice and principles, relying on everything stated in the statement from the office of the highest authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, which called for all efforts to stop the aggression and support Lebanon and its people in their courageous stand against the criminal Zionist attacks that have resulted in the martyrdom of hundreds of its honorable citizens and the injury of thousands of innocent civilians."
He added that "this stance is not new for the highest authority in Najaf, which has long recognized the existence of the Zionist entity and its occupation of Palestine, as well as its attempts to sow discord and escalate conflict in the region." He emphasized that "our government's stated positions have been clear and explicit from the beginning in rejecting the brutal aggression on Gaza and all of steadfast Palestine, in addition to the assaults by the occupying entity on the sovereignty of some countries in the region."
He continued, "As we have continuously called upon major countries, international organizations, and all Arab and Islamic nations to work towards stopping the criminal Zionist war machine, and based on these developments, Iraq calls for an urgent meeting of the leaders of Arab delegations currently in New York, and works to hold an Islamic summit to discuss the repercussions of the Zionist aggression against our peaceful people in Lebanon, and to coordinate efforts to stop its criminal actions, while rallying global opinion, which has never been more aware of the injustice faced by Palestinians, and what is currently affecting the peaceful and stable Lebanon."
He added, "We announce on behalf of Iraq, government and people, our commitment to organize efforts and deliver aid, mobilizing both popular and official efforts, in response to the highest religious authority's call and directives to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of our brothers in Lebanon, through air and land bridges, facilitating the delivery of fuel to operate the power stations needed by hospitals and service institutions in Lebanon, in addition to our open doors to receive the wounded and injured in Iraqi hospitals, and doing everything to bolster Lebanon's resilience against the attacks and terrorist crimes committed by the Zionist regime."