Iraq PM due in Iran to hold talks on ISIL fight, ties

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is set to pay an official visit to Tehran this week to meet and confer with senior Iranian officials.

According to a statement released by Abadi’s office on Sunday, he will arrive in the Iranian capital for a one-day visit on Monday with the fight against the ISIL Takfiri militants being the main highlight of his talks.

The statement further noted that the trip is part of the Iraqi prime minister's bid to unite the efforts made in the region to help Iraq in its war against the terrorist group.

Abadi will also explore ways of boosting cooperation between Baghdad and Tehran in the fields of energy, housing, reconstruction and other areas during his visit.

Iran has announced its readiness to assist the neighboring country in its battle against the ISIL militants.

Iraqi officials say Iranian forces played an important role in breaking the ISIL's two-month-long siege on the Shia Turkmen town of Amerli, situated about 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, in late August.

The ISIL terrorists currently control large swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq. They have committed terrible atrocities in both countries, including mass executions and beheading of local residents as well as foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, Iraqi armed forces have begun mop-up operations against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists operating in the northern parts of the Arab country.

The new army operations are mainly focused on areas near the northern oil town of Baiji, and the city of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (86 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

The first stage of the sweeping operations, which was carried out on Friday, included both Iraqi ground and air forces.