TEHRAN (FNA)- Spokesman of the Iraqi popular forces Ahmad al-Assadi confirmed that Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani will play a major role in the upcoming operations to liberate Mosul, stressing that his country is in dire need of Iranian military advisors.

"The presence of Brigadier-General Soleimani in the operations to free Mosul and Nineveh province is necessary and General Soleiman is the greatest advisor that has helped the Iraqi government in the war against the ISIL," al-Assadi told FNA on Saturday.


"Hajj Qassem Soleimani is one of the most important military advisors of the Islamic Republic of Iran who is in Iraq at the invitation, demand and agreement of the Iraqi government," he added.


Stressing that the Iranian advisors are in Iraq at the demand of the Iraqi government and have played a big role in most operations conducted by the popular forces, al-Assadi said, "They provided the Iraqis with strong views and important consultations with respect to their experience and capabilities."


In relevant remarks in June, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ebrahim al-Jafari underlined that General Soleimani is in Iraq to help the country in campaign against terrorism after receiving Baghdad's rigid request.


"General Soleimani is in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to provide military counseling to the Iraqi forces," the Arabic-language Sumeria news channel quoted al-Jafari as saying.


Also in June, Hashd al-Shaabi (volunteer forces) Commander Abu Mehdi al-Mohandes underlined that General Soleimani is helping the Iraqi forces in their campaign against terrorism upon a request by the Iraqi government.


"The Iranian advisors, headed by dear brother Qassem Soleimani, have been beside us since the start of war and his presence has happened upon the demand of the Iraqi government and agreement of the Armed Forces' top commander," Mohandes said in an interview with Sumeria news channel.


He, meantime, said that the Iraqi nation is able to kick the terrorists out of Iraq with the possibilities in their hands now, adding that Hashd al-Shaabi doesn’t have any political plan and merely supports the political process.


By Fars News Agency