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Ahmad al-Assadi, spokesman for Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (al-Hashd al-Sha'abi)

Iraqi group Popular Mobilization Units has delivered a counterblast to the Turkishpresident who had called the volunteer force fighting Daesha terrorist organization and part of Irans regional policy.

The group, known as Hashd al-Shaabi by its Arabic name, hasjoined forces with the Iraqi government against Daesh terrorists.

Last November, the Iraqi Parliament approved a law, giving legal status to the fighters and recognizingthem as part of the national armed forces.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made incendiary remarks about the fighters in an interview with Doha-based al-Jazeera television channel, calling the group a terrorist organization supported by Iran.

Who are the Hashd al-Sha'abi? Who is backing them? The Iraqi Parliament supports Hashd al-Shaabi, but, honestly, they are a terrorist organization and should be known who stands behind it, he saidbefore adding he believed that the fighters were part of a Persian expansion policy.

The accusationspromptedHashd al-Sha'abispokesman Ahmad al-Assadi to issue an angry reposteon Sunday, saying Erodgan had clearly targeted the Arab country and its leadership.

Who has given Erdogan the right to intervene in Iraqs internal affairs? Iraq is a democratic country with institutions elected by its people. No one has the right to intervene in Iraqs domestic affairs, he said.

As for the Turkish president's Iran bashing,Assadi said, "The Iranian government is assisting Iraq in the fight against terrorism within legal frameworks.

The Islamic Republic has been providing military advisory support to Iraq and Syria at the request of theirgovernments. SeveralIraqi leaders have said that had it not been for Iran's assistance, Daesh would have overrun Baghdad.

Irans policy vis--vis regional issues is completely transparent and clear. It helps the new and democratic Iraq in the fight against Daesh, Assadi said.

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Iraq and Syria, hesaid, are now paying the price for Daeshs reign of terror in the region as he tookan indirect jab at Ankara over its allegedsupport for Takfiriand other militantoutfits.

Erdogans comments surprised IraqiPrime Minister Haider al-Abadi and prompted the Arab nation's Foreign Ministry to summon the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad andhand him a formal protest note.

Diplomatic relations between Ankara and Baghdad have taken a nosedive since Turkey sent around 2,000 troops into northern Iraq in December 2015.

The deployment drew harsh criticism from Iraqi leaders and political parties, warning that it could trigger a war between the two neighbors.

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Hashd al-Sha'abi calls on Erdogan to stop meddling in Iraq - Press TV