Brahimi: Daesh is the illegitimate child of the American occupation in Iraq

Algerian diplomat and former United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria said that Daesh is the illegitimate child of the American occupation of Iraq and Iran’s increased influence in the country.

In statements to Radio Algerie yesterday, Lakhdar Brahimi said: “Daesh is an Iraqi organisation because it is more present in Iraq than in Syria. It is an organisation that can be described as the illegitimate child of the American occupation of Iraq and as Iran’s increased influence in the country.”

“Daesh is also the successor of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its ranks include Iraqi officers who were dissatisfied with the bad treatment they received from the American forces, and did not accept the actions of the Shia militias who tried to impose their influence on many areas in Iraq by fighting the Sunnis.”

Brahimi noted that the organisation, which he described as being “violent and extremist”, killed more Muslims than any other group and that it killed more Sunni Muslims than Shias. He believes that Daesh gained its military strength because it includes specialists who were members of the Iraqi army during late President Saddam Hussein’s rule. The organisation also seized much military equipment, especially during its control of Mosul, and stole $500 million from banks.