( CNN ) -- Iraq 's prime minister said Tuesday he is happy to see the United States and its Arab allies striking ISIS targets in Syria , so long as they `` do it right this time . '' Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour that Iraq has `` paid a heavy price '' for polarization in the region and instability in Syria , saying ISIS fighters have inflicted tremendous pain , suffering and losses on his people after crossing into Iraq . He expressed hope the airstrikes will do what U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed : degrade and destroy the group , which calls itself the Islamic State . It 's good some Arab nations have joined the American-led military campaign , al-Abadi added , though he said he wished they had understood and acted on the danger posed by ISIS sooner . `` We have warned ... this is going to end in a bloodbath if nobody stops it , '' he said . `` Nobody was listening . '' The newly installed prime minister said , `` I personally am happy that everybody is seeing this danger , so that they are going to do something about it . And I hope they ... do it right , and they do n't do it their own way . '' Elaborating on that latter point , al-Abadi said , `` I hope we 're not going to see a crush of DAIISH '' -- another term for ISIS that some say sounds like an Arabic word for `` to trample on , '' which the militants reportedly despise -- `` and the rise of another terrorist element instead of them . '' U.S.-Arab coalition bolstered by show of force . One thing the U.S. military has not done well enough when it comes to its strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq is work in close coordination with Iraqi ground forces , according to al-Abadi . `` Our forces are moving forward and , when they are moving forward , they need air cover , they need air support , '' said the prime minister . `` That air support is not forthcoming . '' Al-Abadi added : `` We ask for it , but of course the coalition -- they have their own ... plan . '' U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria : Who 's in , who 's not . 'If we do n't work together , we do n't deserve a country ' That comment may beg the question : What is al-Abadi 's plan for Iraq ? The Middle Eastern nation has been in turmoil for years . In addition to questions about its effectiveness in providing security and basic needs to its people , the government was panned for being dominated by Shiite Muslims -- like former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki -- and alienating Sunnis . ( Notably , ISIS is made up of Sunnis pushing to institute their hard-line brand of Sharia law in any territory they control , while ruthlessly lashing out at those who do n't subscribe to their mission . ) After Obama 's withdrawal of U.S. ground troops , Iraq 's military was maligned , especially after ISIS fighters speedily overran wide swaths of the country , at times prompting Iraqi troops to drop their weapons and run . Al-Abadi conceded Tuesday that the Islamist extremist group controls at least 25 % of land in his country and is on the doorstep of the capital , Baghdad . Iraqi soldiers , police flee posts in Mosul . This is n't to say al-Abadi deserves blame for this predicament . He officially took power on September 8 , a few weeks after being endorsed by al-Maliki , his fellow Shiite and Islamic Dawa Party member . Still , even if he has n't been in charge long , this is al-Abadi 's problem now . The new prime minister said he does not want militias any more in Iraq , saying armed forces `` must all be under the umbrella of the state . '' Al-Abadi added that he prefers that those in ISIS-controlled territories `` liberate their own areas '' with support from the government , rather than have Iraqi troops march in . As to bringing the country together , the Iraqi leader said , `` We 've worked hard to make ( the government ) more inclusive '' and `` I think we 've got ( Sunnis ) almost on board right now . '' Al-Abadi said a priority for him after he leaves New York -- where he , like other world leaders , are at the U.N. General Assembly -- will be nominating defense and interior ministers , one of whom will be Sunni . Its history of secular and political division , not to mention bloodshed , notwithstanding , al-Abadi said Iraq can survive if Shiites and Sunnis can work together . `` I think we can . We have to , '' he added . `` ... This is our country . And if we do n't work together , we do n't deserve a country . `` ... We have to work together . We have to give in to each other . And I 'm prepared to do hard decisions . ... I expect others to do their own as well . ''
NEW : Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi : Sunnis `` almost on board '' with Shiite-led government . NEW : He says all Iraqis `` must work together , '' be willing to make tough decisions . New : Says he will not allow sectarian violence in Iraq. He hopes airstrikes do n't lead to `` the rise of another terrorist element instead of '' ISIS .