Al Babeliya TV, 25 Oct 2013 – Following an attack by Maliki’s militants against the Abdol-Rahman Grand Mosque in Mosul resulting in the sacred site being destroyed and set ablaze, a number of armed tribes entered clashes with the security forces and set four of the HUMVEE vehicles on fire. In this incident five SWAT members were killed and a number of others were wounded.
Abu Abdol-naeemi, president of the High Coordination Committees, said in this regard, “We say to the government that is linked to Iran and the militants in Neinawa that we are strong and firm against you, and we will not allow you to attack the mosques… We have announced today that we call on all students across Iraq to take up weapons and stand against these militants and SWAT forces… I call on the Arab League and international community to intervene to save Iraq from Iran’s hegemonic measures and have a transitional government established in Baghdad.”