Hegazi
But he ruled out sending troops, so his statement is essentially equivalent to John Kerry’s “We’re rooting for you from the sidelines.” “Iran offers to help Iraq in fight against al-Qaida,” from the Associated Press, January 6:
TEHRAN, Iran “” A senior Iranian military official says Iran is ready to help Iraq battle al-Qaida “terrorists” in the neighboring country”s Sunni-dominated western Anbar province.
Gen. Mohammad Hejazi, deputy chief-of-staff of Iran’s army, is quoted by Iranian media on Monday as saying the Islamic Republic can offer “military equipment and advisers” should Baghdad ask for it.
Hejazi says: “Iraq is our friend.”
He ruled out sending troops to Iraq.
Fighting in Iraq’s Anbar province killed 22 soldiers and 12 civilians, along with an unknown number of militants on Sunday.
Tehran is an ally of the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.