White House says it hopes unified Iraq will "annihilate" IS, "push back" on Iran

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- The White House on Monday said it hopes a unified Iraq will "annihilate" the so-called Islamic State and "push back" on Iran.
During a briefing, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was asked if the White House had a message for the Turks, Iranians and Iraqis who were weighing their response to the Kurdish plebiscite on Kurdish independence.
"We hope for a unified Iraq to annihilate ISIS, and certainly a unified Iraq to push back on Iran," Sanders said.
The referendum on independence, being voted on by Kurds in the semi-autonomous region of northern Iraq, has generated major criticism from leaders in the region, especially in Iraq and Turkey. The US also has condemned the balloting. (end) rm.ibi