US delegation meets Kurdish leaders in Erbil
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A US delegation on Tuesday met with the Kurdish leadership in the capital of the Kurdistan Region and discussed the battle against the Islamic State (IS).
The US delegates included the US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner along with some US military officials and diplomats headed by General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Kurdish delegation consisted of the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, and Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani among other Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials.
In the meeting, both sides discussed the latest developments regarding the military operation to liberate Mosul from IS, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
“General Dunford made reference to the great role that has been played by the Peshmerga forces during the ongoing war against [IS] terrorists,” the statement read.
“He conveyed his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have paid the ultimate price,” the report added.
President Barzani praised the support of the US to the Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga forces in the fight against the extremist group. He also expressed Kurds’ appreciation to the government and people of the US.
“Productive meeting [with] high-level delegation led by Gen. Joseph Dunford to discuss progress in anti-[IS] campaign and plans for the day after,” the KRSC Chancellor wrote on Twitter.
On Monday, Dunford visited Baghdad and discussed the Mosul operation with the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi.
Dunford invited Kushner and Thomas P. Bossert, a presidential assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, to meet with Iraqi and Kurdish leaders.
The US officials also visited American forces in the country to receive updates on the battle against IS.
Capt. Greg Hicks, a spokesperson for Dunford, said Kushner was “traveling on behalf of the president to express [Trump’s] support and commitment to the government of Iraq and US personnel currently engaged in the campaign.”
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany