(VOVworld) - Iraq has sufficient forces to fight the Islamic State (IS), Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Monday.

Smoke rises after a Syrian missile truck enemy positions during fighting last May in the ancient city of Palmyra, 215 kilometers northeast of Damascus, Syria. EFE / STR

He hailed an increased weapons and training support from international partners in the war against IS.  Abadi's remarks came a day after American Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham advocated increasing in US forces in Iraq to around 10,000 from the current 3,550. United Arab Emirates (UAE) offical news agency WAM quoted UAE Foreign Minister Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash as saying that UAE  will continue its combat against terrorism and extremism. Gargash said fighting extremism and terrorism requires global collective efforts which focus on drying up financial resources and extremist.

The IS executed 18 persons loyal to the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad in the city of Palmyra, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday. The victims were executed in a public yard in Palmyra after they were taken captive during previous clashes between IS militants, government forces and pro-regime militias.