Iraq says Western strikes on Syria could aid militants

BAGHDAD: Iraq warned that Western air strikes Saturday on Syria were a "very dangerous" development that could fuel a militant resurgence in the region.

A statement by foreign ministry spokesman Ahmad Mahjoub said the strikes' "consequences threaten the security and stability of the region".

Mahjoub said the raids carried out by the United States, France and Britain were "a very dangerous development... that will provide an opportunity for the expansion of terrorism after it was destroyed in Iraq and largely pushed back in Syria".

He said the ministry was "worried" and called for a "political solution that would satisfy the aspirations of the Syrian people".

Iraq's foreign ministry also called on an Arab League summit to be held on Sunday in Saudi Arabia to "adopt a clear position concerning this dangerous development".

The Iraqi government declared victory over the Islamic State group, which it considers a terrorist organisation, in December after pushing IS militants out of their final holdouts along the border with Syria.

But the group retains the capacity to strike despite losing control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory it seized in 2014 and still clings to pockets of desert in war-torn Syria.