Iraq ready for battle to defend capital Baghdad

The Iraqi government is having to mobilize all resources and international support to protect the country.

The security situation in Iraq is at a critical juncture as extremist Islamic groups take control of several major cities and are approaching the capital Baghdad. The Iraqi government is mobilizing all resources and international support to protect the country from the invasion of terrorist groups, which the country believes are coming from outside.

The Iraqi government is stepping up efforts to retake towns that have fallen into the hands of extremist Islamists. Iraqi army helicopters bombed one of the main mosques in the rebel-held city of Tikrit on June 13. Meanwhile, Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, on June 13 called on Iraqis to take up arms to end attacks by Sunni extremists.

Iraqi army soldiers are ready to fight to protect the country (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)

"Citizens who are capable of taking up arms and fighting terrorists, defending the country, its people and its holy sites should volunteer to join the security forces to defend this sacred cause. Those who sacrifice themselves for the cause of defending their country, their families and their honor will be martyrs," said Al-Karbalai, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

On the same day, the government of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki announced the implementation of a security plan to protect Baghdad from any attack. According to the Iraqi Interior Ministry, the country will deploy a large number of troops and police, increase intelligence activities and mobilize all technical means.

Although the goal of capturing Baghdad, a city with a population of 70 percent Shiite Muslims, is currently impossible, Sunni insurgents are still closing in on the capital from three directions: one from An-ba province in the west, from Salah ad-Dine in the north and one from Diyala province in the east. In this province alone, security sources and local officials said insurgents clashed with Shiite militias at two locations just 80 kilometers from the capital.

In this context, the international community has continuously expressed concern and support for the efforts of the Iraqi government and people to restore security in the country. Over the past two days, the United Nations Security Council and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have convened emergency meetings to discuss the security situation in Iraq, issued statements of full support for the country's fight against terrorism and called for an urgent, comprehensive dialogue in Iraq. However, international leaders have emphasized that only with unity can Iraq end the current instability.

In his first statement on the security situation in Iraq, US President Barack Obama announced on June 13 that he would not send troops to fight in Iraq, but stressed that other options would be studied in the coming days. Mr. Obama also called on Iraqi political officials to put aside ethnic disputes. According to him, nothing can be done without a political plan made by the Iraqis themselves.

"We will not send combat troops to Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of options to support Iraqi security forces, and I will consider those options in the coming days. But I want to say that without political efforts, no military action will succeed. Therefore, Iraqi leaders need to wake up and show a willingness to make difficult decisions and compromise for the Iraqi people to take back their country together," said US President Barack Obama.

Previously, Britain and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization also rejected the possibility of sending troops to fight in Iraq./.

According to VOV