Iran is asked to provide military assistance to the Iraqi Assyrians

Almaty. March 19. Silkroadnews - Assyrians appealed to the Iranian authorities to ask for help for their fellow tribesmen living in Iraq, reports the Iranian News Agency (IrTAG) on Thursday.
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamhani, told to reporters that this week he had a meeting with representatives of the International Association of the Assyrians, who on behalf of all the Assyrians turned to Tehran for assistance in arming Iraqi Assyrians and training their military affairs, so that they can independently provide their own security against various terrorist groups.
According to A.Shamhani, in response, he promised that the Iranian side will consider the request, because Iran does not distinguish between ethnic or religious groups, if they need help in the fight against terrorism in the region.
During the last year the Assyrians, the majority of whom are Christians, were threatened with destruction by terrorists, to seize territory in the Iraqi province of Nineveh, with its capital in Mosul, where Assyrian Christians lived originally.
The first wave of the Assyrians left Iraq after the invasion by coalition forces led by the United States in 2003. At that time lived in the country of about 1.5 million Christians. By 2014, their number was reduced to 150 thousand, which was the result of war and the continuing terrorist attacks by militant extremists.