Peshmerga, Coalition discuss ways to prevent IS infiltration in Kurdistan and Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga officials and representatives of the US-led Coalition members in Kurdistan held a monthly meeting to discuss the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (IS).

Officials and commanders from the Peshmerga Forces and the US-led Coalition against IS met in Erbil on Monday to discuss security coordination and collaboration between both sides as well as between the Kurdish forces and Iraqi troops.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Peshmerga, the officials addressed the increase in the terror group’s activities in Iraq, particularly in Kirkuk and Mosul. They also highlighted the mechanisms needed to prevent IS attacks.

“The participants also discussed the cooperation with the Global Coalition and increasing coordination between the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, especially with IS’ attempts to conduct cross-border activities from Syria into Iraqi and Kurdish cities,” the statement added.

Karim Sinjari, the Acting Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, said coordination between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces needs to improve to prevent any cross-border activities and movements by the extremist group.

According to the statement, the Coalition representative expressed his concerns over IS’ infiltration from Syria into Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launch anti-IS operations inside Syria.

Over the past months, senior Coalition officials have seemed to signal that they are adopting a new approach to ensuring IS’ defeat, and they recognize it cannot be done without the active engagement of the Peshmerga.

Despite Iraq declaring “final victory” over the extremist group last December, IS continues to launch insurgency-style attacks, kidnappings, and ambushes in the disputed provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, Salahuddin, Nineveh, and the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany