Kurdish Security Council warns of military build-up as Abadi tells US not to interfere

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Security Council (KRSC) on Monday expressed concern regarding the continued military build-up of Iraqi forces and Iranian-back Shia Hashd al-Shaabi troops in disputed territories.

“In the last 48 hours, Iraq has continued to deploy tanks and artillery, as well as American equipment, including Humvees and Armored Personnel Carriers [to Kurdistan],” read a statement released by the office of KRSC Chancellor Masrour Barzani.

“Iraq has shown zero signs of de-escalating their military aggression against the people of the Kurdistan Region,” the statement continued.

In response to comments made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday regarding Iranian militias in Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s media office also indicated Baghdad’s aggression toward the Kurds was unlikely to end.

“No one has the right to interfere in Iraqi matters,” Abadi’s office fired back to Tillerson.

The remarks came a day after the top American diplomat demanded Iranian militias “leave Iraq” during a trilateral meeting with the Iraqi PM and Saudi King Salman in Riyadh.

While the US has repeatedly expressed concerns that Iran would take advantage of gains made against the Islamic State (IS) to expand its authority in the region, Erbil’s unease at US weapons and military equipment being used by Shia militias has not been lessened.

“This dangerous deployment follows Iraq’s unprovoked attacks last week in Kirkuk and Altun Kupri. We call on the Iraqi Government to immediately cease its military aggression and withdraw from all territories,” the KRSC’s statement continued.  

On Oct. 16, days after US President Donald Trump’s speech on curtailing Iran’s destabilizing role in the Middle East, Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi forces helped Baghdad take control of Kirkuk and other disputed territories.

Since then, the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), along with Iraqi troops continued to advance toward Pirde, with clashes erupting on Friday in the multi-ethnic town some 40 kilometers south of the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

Officials and demonstrators in the Kurdistan Region have called on the international community to intervene as Iranian-backed militias continue to use US-provided advanced weaponry and equipment, including Humvees and Abrams tanks – supplied to the Iraqi forces with the aim to defeat IS – against Kurds.

“Iraq must commit to unconditional talks to settle political disputes through peaceful means,” the statement concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany