Abadi refuses to acknowledge Peshmerga's role in defeating IS
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Prime Minister declared victory over the Islamic State (IS) on Saturday, thanking all Iraqi forces but once again ignoring the Peshmerga sacrifices that made the victory happen.
In a televised speech, the Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi, announced the end of the fight against the Islamic State after the extremists were cleared from all the territory they once held.
Abadi thanked the Iraqi army divisions, the Federal Police, Hashd al-Shaabi, Counter Terrorism Forces, the Air Force and the tribal fighters for their role in the fight against IS.
However, Abadi refused to acknowledge the Peshmerga forces whom the anti-IS Coalition and world leaders consider the most effective ground forces against the extremist group since 2014.
The Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Jamal Eminki told Kurdistan24 that Baghdad's inability to acknowledge the truth is rooted in their hatred for the Kurds.
He added that without the Peshmerga it would have been impossible for the Iraqi forces to easily liberate the city of Mosul and other areas.
Eminki added that Peshmerga forces do not need Baghdad's appreciation because they have proven to the whole world how effective they have been in defeating terror groups.
According to the KRG’s Ministry of Peshmerga more than 1,800 Peshmerga fighters were martyred in the fight against IS and more than 10,000 others were wounded.
The Peshmerga official emphasized that prior to the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi's attack on Kurdistan Region, they were grateful to the Kurdish forces' contributions.
Following the Oct. 16 attack by Iraqi forces and the Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia on Kirkuk and other disputed areas, over 180,000 people were forcibly displaced to other cities in the Kurdistan Region.
Also thousands of houses and properties were looted, burnt and destroyed in the town of Khurmatu, south Kirkuk.
Editing by Sam A.