Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi blamed the fall of Mosul to ISIS in June 2014 on the wrong policies that were followed at the time. While he praised the fatwa of “defensive jihad” issued by the supreme Shiite authority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Kadhimi warned against exploiting it for non-national projects. In a statement on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the issuance of the fatwa, the Iraqi premier said: “Iraq has gone through very difficult circumstances (in reference to ISIS’ occupation of about three Iraqi provinces in the western region of the country), which put it in front of a serious existential challenge.” He continued: “All this came as a result of neglecting the security institutions and the heroic Iraqi army, and the accumulation of wrong policies that caused these disasters.” “Divine Providence, the fatwa and directives issued by the supreme authority, Sayyed Ali al-Sistani, stopped a terrorist monster that had frightened the whole world, and led to the elimination of this organization during a period that the world could never have imagined,” he underlined. Kadhimi went on to say that he was working “to correct the path by supporting the armed forces and guiding their performance in accordance with national military rules.” In this regard, he underlined his government’s determination to “consolidate the pillars of brotherhood” among the Iraqi people, pledging to provide the citizens with equal rights without any form of discrimination. Al-Kadhimi vowed to work “despite all the difficulties and obstacles to build a bright future,” adding: “Soon, you will have a role in building your future through your participation in the elections.” In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Hussein Allawi, Advisor to the Prime Minister, stressed that Kadhimi was seeking to “build the Iraqi forces away from political pressure so that they can perform their duties, tasks, and obligations in accordance with the military values of patriotism and professionalism.” “Building and strengthening the work of the Iraqi armed forces per the principle of diversity will allow them to represent all members of Iraqi society, and will make them closer to the citizens,” Allawi stated.