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Islamic State talks: Iraq 'regrets' Iran absence | Islamic State talks: Iraq 'regrets' Iran absence |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Iraq's foreign minister has criticised the decision not to invite Iran to an international summit on the threat from Islamic State (IS) militants. | |
Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the decision was "regrettable". | Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the decision was "regrettable". |
Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS in Paris. | Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS in Paris. |
Meanwhile the US has said that it carried out airstrikes south-west of Baghdad on Monday in support of Iraqi troops who were being attacked by IS fighters and who requested back-up. | |
Officials say the strike reflects the recent decision by President Obama to attack IS positions wherever they are. | |
Earlier US airstrikes in Iraq - conducted since August - were carried out to protect American interests and personnel, help Iraqi refugees and secure infrastructure. | |
But Monday's strike was carried out directly to support Iraqi forces fighting the militants, officials say. | |
'Danger of terrorism' | |
The US has denied a claim by the Iranian supreme leader that it had asked Iran for its military co-operation in the fight against IS, and said it would not co-operate with either Iran or Syria. | |
Together, Iran and Syria share most of Iraq's borders, but relations between them and the US are fraught. | Together, Iran and Syria share most of Iraq's borders, but relations between them and the US are fraught. |
The talks had been called to agree a strategy to combat the group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. | The talks had been called to agree a strategy to combat the group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. |
The CIA estimates that Islamic State has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. | The CIA estimates that Islamic State has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. |
Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said that he regretted the absence of Iran. | Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said that he regretted the absence of Iran. |
"We believe that all world countries are concerned about the danger of terrorism" he said. | "We believe that all world countries are concerned about the danger of terrorism" he said. |
"Iran is our neighbour, it assisted us and it should have been present, but we are not the party responsible for inviting parties," he added. | "Iran is our neighbour, it assisted us and it should have been present, but we are not the party responsible for inviting parties," he added. |
He went on to say that he does not expect foreign ground troops to become militarily involved in either Iraq or Syria. | He went on to say that he does not expect foreign ground troops to become militarily involved in either Iraq or Syria. |
Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out co-operation with Iran, citing its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere". | Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out co-operation with Iran, citing its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere". |
But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US had requested Iran's co-operation via the US ambassador to Iraq. | But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US had requested Iran's co-operation via the US ambassador to Iraq. |
"I said no, because they have dirty hands," he said. He added the US was seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan - bomb anywhere without authorisation". | "I said no, because they have dirty hands," he said. He added the US was seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan - bomb anywhere without authorisation". |
Syria also did not take part in the Paris gathering. | Syria also did not take part in the Paris gathering. |
Meanwhile, France said it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq. | Meanwhile, France said it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq. |
Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Damascus | Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Damascus |
Another layer of conflict is being grafted on to a series of parallel and overlapping wars in Syria and Iraq. | Another layer of conflict is being grafted on to a series of parallel and overlapping wars in Syria and Iraq. |
Enemies of the Syrian regime, including Saudi Arabia, will want to calculate how much their actions against Islamic State might strengthen President Bashar al-Assad - who has men tied up fighting IS. | Enemies of the Syrian regime, including Saudi Arabia, will want to calculate how much their actions against Islamic State might strengthen President Bashar al-Assad - who has men tied up fighting IS. |
Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional superpowers, back opposing sides in Syria. They will look very closely to see if American actions indirectly help their rival. | Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional superpowers, back opposing sides in Syria. They will look very closely to see if American actions indirectly help their rival. |
Some Islamist fighters in Syria who have been trained and armed by Saudi Arabia or Qatar have already gravitated to IS. Opposition to Western involvement might make more follow. | Some Islamist fighters in Syria who have been trained and armed by Saudi Arabia or Qatar have already gravitated to IS. Opposition to Western involvement might make more follow. |
And the US and its Western allies are becoming direct players in the wars in Syria and Iraq - and in the deepening sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. | And the US and its Western allies are becoming direct players in the wars in Syria and Iraq - and in the deepening sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. |
Many argue that the Americans and the British tore open sectarian scars when they invaded Iraq in 2003, and now risk making matters even worse. | Many argue that the Americans and the British tore open sectarian scars when they invaded Iraq in 2003, and now risk making matters even worse. |
Daunting task ahead for US-led coalition | Daunting task ahead for US-led coalition |
How will Obama's anti-IS coalition work? | How will Obama's anti-IS coalition work? |
Since August, US fighter jets have conducted about 160 air strikes on IS positions in Iraq. | Since August, US fighter jets have conducted about 160 air strikes on IS positions in Iraq. |
The group's former name was Isis and it has also been known as Isil (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). | The group's former name was Isis and it has also been known as Isil (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). |