World Bulletin/News Desk

Iraq's most important Shi'ite religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani endorsed international intervention against ISIL in the country on Friday, following U.S. and French air strikes, but called for strict guidelines.

"Even if Iraq is in need of help from its brothers and friends in fighting black terrorism, maintaining the sovereignty and independence of its decisions is of the highest importance," Sistani's spokesman Sheikh Abdul Mehdi Karbala'i said during a Friday sermon.