Australia and Iran sign agreement to fight IS

(Baonghean) - According to Australia's ABC newspaper, on Monday, April 20, Australia and Iran reached an official agreement on sharing information to fight against the Islamic State (IS) organization after the Australian Foreign Minister made an official visit to Tehran.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (left) and Iranian President Hassan Rohani. Photo: AP/Uncredited

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the initial exchanges between the two countries would allow the Australian government to obtain “information about Australians involved” in the ranks of IS jihadists. She said she thought “the Iranians have information that we need and they are quite prepared to share it with us.”

The head of Australian foreign policy also welcomed Iran's support for the Iraqi government, in parallel with the airstrikes of the International Coalition in the fight against IS. For its part, Australia has sent hundreds of soldiers to Iraq to train Iraqi security forces in the fight against jihadists. However, this move by the Australian government has caused many people to worry that it will increase retaliatory terrorist acts in Australia.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 25,000 foreign fighters participating in armed conflicts mainly in Syria, Iraq and increasingly in Libya. According to a report in early March, Foreign Minister Julie said that at least 90 Australians are fighting with jihadists in Iraq and Syria, of whom at least 20 have died. In response to the emergence and expansion of IS, Australia raised its alert level for terrorist threats in September last year.

Perhaps the increase in Australia's security alert level will continue as last Saturday, Australian police arrested five teenagers planning a terrorist attack targeting the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I. It is known that the commemorative activities were prepared within 1 month and the government mobilized more than 200 police to protect.

Chu Thanh

According to Le Monde April 20