Baghdad Awaits Russia's Decision On Help With Iraq's Rebuilding Post-IS - Defense Ministry

Baghdad is waiting for Russia's decision on whether it will participate in reconstructing areas of Iraq that were destroyed in the war with the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), Muhammad Abadi, general secretary of the Iraqi Defense Ministry, told Sputnik on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual International Moscow Security Conference (MCIS)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th April, 2019) Baghdad is waiting for Russia's decision on whether it will participate in reconstructing areas of Iraq that were destroyed in the war with the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), Muhammad Abadi, general secretary of the Iraqi Defense Ministry, told Sputnik on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual International Moscow Security Conference (MCIS).

"Iraq is open for investment now. Any country which would like to build [is welcome]. [Russia has been invited already] and depends on the Russian government, they will select the line and the part they think they can assist and build it," Abadi said.

Iraq's infrastructure has been devastated by the war with the IS, which started in 2014 after an insurgency escalated into civil war and ended in 2017. During that time the terrorist group captured several of Iraq's major cities, which suffered severe damage from US-led airstrikes against IS.

In the northern city of Mosul alone, over half of the public buildings have been destroyed and thousands of dwellings over IS-affected areas are in need of repair. In 2018 Iraq received billions of Dollars in credit lines, loans and investment from Turkey, Gulf Arab allies and the United States.