Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who allowed Daesh to capture key cities in Iraq during his term in the office, said on Tuesday that they would launch an “anti-terror operation” in Yemen and the Syrian city of Aleppo.
The Iraq-led coalition campaign to liberate the Daesh-occupied city of Mosul would be only the first step to liberating other cities in the Middle East, according to the former leader of the country.
"Today, Iraq has launched an operation to liberate Mosul, but it is also one to liberate other cities," Maliki said at an Iran-sponsored conference in Baghdad.
"The 'We are coming to Nineveh' operation also means, 'We are coming to Raqqa'; 'We are coming to Aleppo'; 'We are coming to Yemen.'"
His remarks may increase the sectarian conflict in the region as the Shi'ite militia forces' participation in the Mosul operation were objected by other members of the coalition fighting in Mosul.
It also can push the ongoing situation in Aleppo into a deadlock, where Shi'ite militias are supporting a regime massacre against the Sunni population.
Maliki also expressed to support the Iran-backed Houthi Shi'ite militia group, which staged a nationwide uprising against the government of Yemen.
Maliki called those in his country who were fighting as “terrorists” and pledged to fight them “in all places where they exist.”
Sectarian conflicts are going to be increased in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, where Iran is currently involved through its Shi'ite militia forces.
