(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.
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NEW: Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi: Sunnis "almost on board" with Shiite-led government
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NEW: He says all Iraqis "must work together," be willing to make tough decisions
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Al-Abadi says his government has been warning about ISIS "bloodbath" for years
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He hopes airstrikes don't lead to "the rise of another terrorist element instead of" ISIS
As to bringing the country together, the @placeholder leader said, "We've worked hard to make (the government) more inclusive" and "I think we've got (Sunnis) almost on board right now."