Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi stressed on Monday that he will not allow the shelling of civilians in any area in the country, pledging to defend every soldier and citizen.
"We bear the responsibility of protecting citizens regardless of their ethnicities, sects or religions," Abadi said at a press conference held on the sidelines of his meeting with head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar el-Hakim.
"Iraq does not need international troops on the ground," he said.
He added that the countries of the International coalition against Daesh stressed, during the UN General Assembly meetings, respect for Iraq's sovereignty and promised not to send ground troops to the country.