Haider al-Abadi, the prime minister of Iraq, received UAE ambassador to Iraq Abdullah Ibrahim al-Shihi over the weekend in Baghdad.
“The UAE ambassador conveyed the greetings and congratulations of the UAE and its people for the liberation of the entirety of Iraqi soil and praised the security stability achieved in Iraq,” according to a readout from prime minister’s office.
The statement also declared that based on Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s “faith in the relations between the two brotherly countries and the role of Iraq in the fight against terrorism, [the UAE] is offering to reconstruct sites in Mosul,” adding that a special delegation from the UAE will visit Iraq for this purpose.
The Emirate’s office in Baghdad wasn’t reachable on Monday.
Ambassador Shihi also congratulated Iraq for what it has “achieved.”
ISIS threatened to overrun all of Iraq in 2014. Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga backed by the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, and the mostly-Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries pushed ISIS out of the country’s second-largest city of Mosul on July 10, 2017.
“[Abadi] stressed Iraq’s keenness to strengthen relations with the state of Emirates [UAE],” read the statement of Saturday’s meeting, “and all countries on the basis of mutual interests the service of both nations.
“[Abadi] pointed out that Iraq is currently at the forefront of countries which fight terrorism after military victory over ISIS groups, and Iraqis will also prevail in rebuilding and reconstructing their country.”
Al-Hadba minaret was built in 1170 and Al-Nuri mosque was built in 1172. The mosque is named for Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zangi, an Islamic Kurdish ruler of Mosul and Aleppo. Nur al-Din brought together Muslims in Iraq and Syria to form a united front against the crusaders.
ISIS blew up both structures on June 21, 2017, after being surrounded and facing a months-long siege and bombardment.
Yahya Rasoul, the spokesperson for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, described blowing up the two historical Mosul sites "as blowing up the history” and the group "added another crime against humanity" and world heritage.
In July 2014, ISIS leader Abubakir al-Baghdadi, in his only public appearance, declared his so-called “Islamic State” from Al-Nuri mosque.
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