Top Iraqi Shiite cleric Ayatollah Sistani calls for global war against ISIS

Representative of Iraq’s most powerful Shiite cleric on Friday called for a global war against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Reuters said. Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani was speaking through an aide after nationally televised Friday prayers. “Battle with Daesh is destined for all Iraqis,” said Ayatollah Sistani’s representative, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “It’s not their battle alone but the whole world, because terrorists target with their dark ideology all humanity, its culture and morals,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s essential to join together all efforts and expand the parameters of countering this movement.” Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday the Iraqi government would welcome Russian airstrikes against IS in Iraq, and was receiving information from both Syria and Russia on the group. Abadi told France 24 television he had not yet discussed airstrikes with Russia, adding that “it is a possibility.”