Iraqi forces may enter Syria to fight Daesh: Adviser

By Hadi Hassan

BAGHDAD

An Iraqi adviser hinted Saturday that Iraqi forces might enter Syrian territories to fight the Daesh militant group.

Speaking at a forum in Najaf in central Iraq, Faleh al-Fayyad, a national security adviser to the Iraqi government, said Iraqi forces were making progress in the ongoing operation to retake Daesh-held Mosul city.

“…we might be forced to enter Syrian territories to fight Daesh after liberating Mosul,” he added.

This is the first time that an Iraqi official speaks about the possibility of sending troops into war-torn Syria to fight Daesh.

Iraq shares a long border with Syria.

Fayyay denied that the PKK terrorist group was participating in the anti-Daesh offensive in Mosul.

“The participation of this group will not be allowed,” he said.

On Oct. 18, the Iraqi army -- backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes -- launched a much-anticipated operation to retake Mosul, which Daesh overran in mid-2014.

While most villages on the city’s outskirts have since fallen, Daesh remains in control of Mosul, which is the last Daesh stronghold in northern Iraq.