BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi top leaders on Sunday confirmed that the recent attacks by unidentified militant groups on diplomatic missions are targeting Iraq's sovereignty.
A statement by the Iraqi presidency office said that President Barham Salih held a meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, and the head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zidan, as the top officials discussed the current security and political situation.
"The meeting supported the government's efforts to control the arms and to prevent the targeting of diplomatic missions, as the protection of their security, facilities, and personnel is the responsibility of the Iraqi government," the statement said.
The Iraqi top officials also confirmed their rejection to any foreign interference in Iraq's affairs and any attempt to turn Iraq into an arena for settling scores, or a launching pad for attacks on other countries, according to the statement.
They also highlighted the importance of "long-term cooperation with the United States in various fields, especially cooperation in the field of training and arming the Iraqi security forces as well as the war against the Islamic State group," the statement added.
The meeting came as unidentified militant groups have frequently fired mortar rounds on Iraqi military bases housing U.S.-led coalition forces as well as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, where the main Iraqi government offices and some foreign embassies are located.
According to media reports, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo privately warned Iraq earlier that the United States would close its embassy in Baghdad if the Iraqi government doesn't move to stop such attacks. Enditem
