Abadi asks Trump to review travel ban on Iraqis in a telephone call
The Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi asked the US President Donald Trump to review his executive order and remove Iraq from the list of seven countries’ travel ban.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - The Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi asked the US President Donald Trump to review his executive order and remove Iraq from the list of seven countries’ travel ban.
The executive order barred travelers from Libya, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days, but the decision currently has been blocked by the federal court of the US.
“The Prime Minister stressed the importance of a review of the decision on the right of Iraqis to travel to the United States and lift Iraq from the list of countries mentioned in the executive order," according to Abadi’s Press Office statement on Thursday.
"Mr. Trump stressed the importance of coordination to find a solution to this issue as soon as possible and that he will direct the US State Department in this regard,” the statement added.
The two leaders discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Trump praised the victories achieved by the Iraqi forces in the battle against the so-called Islamic State (IS) as well as the role of Abadi in leading “the war on terror.”
“He pointed out that we will work together to defeat terrorism because Iraq is an ally of ours,” the statement read.
US President also invited Iraqi PM to visit Washington DC for a meeting about the fight against the extremist group.
Abadi discussed the current situation in the battlefield for Mosul military operation, stating the IS is in “their terminal stage.” The Premier also noted that Iraq is determined to eradicate the “terrorist organization,” stressing the importance of the international community’s support in the battle against the jihadist group.
On Oct. 17, 2016, Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces launched Mosul operation and so far have liberated large swaths of territory, including half of the city from the east and north. The troops are in preparation to resume the offensive in freeing the western side Mosul.
Editing by Ava Homa