’Saudi FM’s Call to Dissolve Popular Mobilization Units Narrow-minded’

Local Editor

"Adel al-Jubeir's remarks in which he called for the dismantling of the Popular Mobilization Units reflect the scope of his narrow-mindedness," Iraqi National Security Advisor Faleh al-Fayyad said on Thursday.

"Such comments are not beneficial to bilateral relations [between Baghdad and Riyadh]. It is outside the purview of Jubeir or anyone else to debate the issue," he said in an exclusive interview with al-Sumaria television network.

Fayyad's remarks came only hours after the Saudi FM accused the Popular Mobilization Units of fueling sectarian tensions in Iraq, calling for their dissolution.

"The world has begun to realize that Hashid al-Shaabi [the Arabic name of the Popular Mobilization Units] is a key factor in the fight against terrorism. The force crushed Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group], which operates to cause sectarian tensions in Iraq and is poised to kill 70 percent of the Iraqi population," al-Fayyad added.

Earlier, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal strongly condemned Jubeir's comments as "meddlesome."

Jamal, in a statement released early on Wednesday, expressed Baghdad's distraught over repeated Saudi intervention in Iraq's domestic affairs, calling on Riyadh to stop Saudi nationals from joining Daesh terrorists.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi strongly advised Saudi Ambassador to Baghdad Thamer al-Sabhan to stand firmly committed to his diplomatic duties and avoid meddling in Iraq's internal affairs.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team