Iraq’s top diplomat has described the global fight against the Islamic State as a 'Third World War'.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Ibrahim Al Jaafari said efforts to eradicate the extremist movement, which has taken over large swathes of his country, had a much greater international reach than the First and Second World Wars, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

He made his comments on the sidelines of the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue, which concluded yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.

“This is the Third World War,” he said.

“A third globalised war much bigger than the First and Second World Wars, which were not as globalised as this one.

“Hence I would call it a true Third World War.”

Dr Al Jaafari said the indiscriminate violence employed by IS jihadists was one of the main challenges in confronting them, as well as its ability to brainwash young people into committing atrocities in the name of Islam.

“The major challenge which Iraq faces in its fight against the IS is their logic, which doesn't justify the actions of murdering children, women and the elderly,” Dr Al Jaafari told the GDN.

He said an international coalition engaged in fighting the IS was facing cold-blooded killers with no sense of boundaries.

“For the IS there is no red line and there is no forbidden circle which they are out of,” said Dr Al Jaafari.

“Anything for them is a target, which is one side of the danger, while the other side to the secret of their power is the culture and the education they have, which is based on killing yourself (suicide attacks).

“When the participants are ready to kill themselves before killing others, they are obviously brainwashed.”

He said the fact that IS members were not drawn from a single country meant an international response was a must to combat the threat posed by the group.

“It is true they are in Iraq, but the members of IS came from five continents '“ Asia, Africa, America, Europe and Australasia,” he said.

“They recruited people from all continents to fight, which implies that we are facing globalised terrorism that needs a global retaliation.

“The UN drew attention to this and it is normal that world governments should stand together against this threat in Iraq, with Iraq.

“Although this reaction came late, it is the correct one.

“The sole solution to the crisis is for the whole world to stand beside the country that faces the threat, which will be a clear message to the IS that my country will not be left alone to face this threat.” - TradeArabia News Service