Iraqi Islamic Council leader says Iraqis will not abandon those who stood with them

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The head of Iraq's Supreme Islamic Council, Hammam Hammami, said Iraqis will not leave their allies alone, expressing continued solidarity with Iran's leadership. Speaking at a gathering, Hammami described Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a contemporary symbol of resistance against oppression, following the path of Imam Hussein. Hammami said a strong state was built during Khamenei's era by combining asceticism, courage, scholarship and political experience. He added that the Iranian Revolution was renewed with greater spirit under Khamenei's leadership, and that mass popular participation delivered the strongest message of defiance to adversaries. The Iraqi official said Khamenei loves Iraq and the Iraqi people, supported the Islamic revolution in the country and provided military assistance to the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) in the fight against ISIS. Hammami added that Khamenei took care to preserve harmony between the religious centers of Qom and Najaf.