Iran's Velayati Regrets Spread of Extremism in Yemen, Syria, Iraq
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council and Supreme Leader's adviser Ali Akbar Velayati regretted the spread of radical groups in the region, saying that Yemen, Syria and Iraq have been invaded by extremists.
"Unfortunately, extremists are committing crimes in the region," Velayati said at a press conference in Lebanon, adding that Yemen, Syria and Iraq are under attack by extremist groups.
Velayati arrived in Lebanon on Monday to attend and address a meeting of Muslim world scholars on Palestine.
He further emphasized that Muslim countries' officials who have a good record of collaboration and interaction with each other should exchange views to combat extremism.
The Middle East region has been plagued by extremism and terrorism in recent years.
Iraq has been the scene of clashes between military forces and terrorists from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) since the foreign-backed militants attacked the Arab country from Syria in summer 2014.
Syria has been also gripped by civil war since March 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 220,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflicts.
Yemen has been under deadly air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition since March 26. According to Yemen's Freedom House Foundation, the Saudi airstrikes have claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Yemeni people so far while more than 6,887 others have been wounded.