Blinken and Barzani discuss Mosul military operation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) –  The US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani discussed Mosul offensive and post-Islamic State (IS) Mosul on Thursday in Erbil.

Barzani met Blinken accompanied by the US Special Presidential Envoy, US Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman, and the US Consul General in Erbil Ken Gross, among other American diplomats.

In the meeting, Blinken praised the bravery of Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against IS in northern Iraq. He mentioned that due to the successes of Peshmerga forces, the war against the jihadists has largely moved forward.

Barzani thanked Washington for supporting the people of the Kurdistan Region in the battle against IS and hoped for further cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Washington in defeating the extremist group.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the preparations and military plan for liberating Mosul that has been under the control of IS since June 2014.

Barzani highlighted the importance of a political plan for post-IS Mosul in order to prevent the problems from getting deepened and to reassure the ethnic and religious groups in Nineveh Province, especially Kurdish Ezidi people and Christians.

The US delegation explained the plan and military strategy of the US for launching Mosul offensive and the cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad.

Moreover, Blinken also met the President of Iraq Fuad Masum in Erbil and discussed the current situation in the country and the military operation in Mosul that is planned to take place by the end of 2016, according to President Barzani.

On Wednesday, the Deputy Secretary of State met the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri in Baghdad.

Editing by Ava Homa