Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said that US-led intervention to Iraq in 2003 contributed to the rise of ISIL.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) US-led intervention toIraq in2003 contributed tothe rise ofthe Islamic State (ISIL) militant group, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair told CNN inthe interview that is expected tobe revealed onSunday.
I think there are elements oftruth inthat. Of course you cant say those ofus who removed [former Iraqi leader] Saddam [Hussein] in2003 bear no responsibility forthe situation in2015, Blair said inthe interview, answering the question onwhether he thought invasion ofIraq led tothe rise ofthe ISIL, asquoted byThe Telegraph newspaper.
Blair added that he apologized for wrong intelligence and poor planning ofthe conflict details. However he refused toapologize forousting Hussein frompower.
The United Kingdom was part ofa US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in2003, withouta UN mandate, afterfalsely accusing Hussein ofpossessing weapons ofmass destruction
ISIL is an extremist group that occupies large areas ofIraq and Syria and seeks toestablish a caliphate ruled bystrict Sharia law onthe territory underits control. The group has affiliates operating inother countries, including Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan.