Iraqi, Lebanese people unity to defeat militants

Iraqi and Lebanese leaders, addressing the UN General Assemblyآ’s (UNGA) 69th session Friday, said unity of their people would defeat terrorist groups in the region, calling for the stepping up of international anti-terror efforts.
Iraqi President Fuad Massoum said formation of his countryآ’s inclusive government was a political retaliation against the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
The Iraqi people feel their new government represent them and its program will meet their ambitions and hopes towards stability, progress and construction, as well as establishing good relations with neighboring countries, Massoum said.
This government, he added, would confront the threat posed by ISIL which has been attacking unarmed civilians, occupying large territories in Iraq and Syria on which they announced their so-called Islamic State over them.
He also said ISIL militants, who have "big financial and military capabilities," committed crimes against humanity, genocides, ethnic cleansing, destroying worshipping places, cultural and historic sites.
Massoum underlined that the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces succeeded in stopping the advancement of ISIL towards new areas, as well as liberating other cities controlled by the terrorist group.
The US is leading an international alliance aimed at cracking down on ISIL militarily and politically. The UN Security Council (UNSC) approved resolution 2170 that condemned gross and widespread abuse of human rights by extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as places sanctions on individuals linked with Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front and ISIL.
Massoum urged the international community stand by Iraq in its efforts to alleviate the suffering of some 1.8 million people who were internally displaced because of ISIL assaults.
He said regional countries would work together to defuse security crises in order to tighten the grip on terrorist groups.
The Iraqi president urged the international community to exert efforts to achieving peace in the Middle East region.
He also wished stability and security would prevail in Yemen, Libya and Syria.
For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam his people were united with the armed forces to confront the terrorist groups in the country.
Salam, who appreciated Saudi Arabiaآ’s funding for purchase of weapons and military equipment, called on countries around the world to "protect Lebanon from regional power struggle." He said the conflict in Syria forced some 1.5 million Syrians to seek refuge in Lebanon, a number equivalent to one-third of the Lebanese population, causing massive burden on the countryآ’s infrastructure, national economy and services.
"This reality is, for us, a national disaster," he said and called on the international community to share this burden.
Salam, meanwhile, urged the international community to compel Israel to abide by UN resolution 1701, stop violating Lebanese sovereignty and withdraw from the north of Ghajar town, Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba hills.
Israel is also responsible for foiling efforts to reach a peaceful settlement based on the two-state solution that would see Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.