Peshmerga Ministry to Coalition: We will not be silent in defending Kurdistan

Acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari on Monday met with the US-led coalition regarding the Iraqi Forces and Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces' (PMF) attack on Kirkuk.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari on Monday met with the US-led coalition regarding the Iraqi Forces and Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces' (PMF) attack on Kirkuk.

In the meeting held in Erbil, Sinjari stressed the fact that Iraqi Forces and the Iranian-backed Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary group have assailed the city of Kirkuk using advanced military equipment supplied by the US-led coalition, according to the Peshmerga Ministry’s media office.

He mentioned that Peshmerga forces will no longer be silent and would “defend Kirkuk at any cost,” holding the Federal Government of Iraq, Iraqi military commanders “and those who support them” responsible for the conflict.

Sinjari also expressed his concern regarding Iran's border closure with the Kurdistan Region on Sunday, equating it to another sanction on the Region.

The Minister called on officials in Baghdad to lessen the political tension with Erbil through constructive dialogue, warning that the current crisis in Kirkuk would not remain as manageable.

According to the statement, Coalition commanders hoped the issues would be resolved through dialogue rather than violence.

On Sunday night, Iraqi forces and the PMF attacked Peshmerga front lines south and west of Kirkuk as part of ongoing measures taken by the central Government of Iraq in retaliation to the Sep. 25 Kurdish independence referendum.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud