Barzani and Iraq’s national security adviser discuss ISIS threats, disputed areas

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani on Friday received Iraq’s National Security Adviser Falih al-Fayyadh in Erbil to discuss the latest security developments in the country.

In a meeting, they discussed the political situation in the country, the war against the Islamic State, and steps to eliminate terrorism in Iraq, according to Barzani’s press office.

They also spoke about territories disputed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government of Iraq and addressed possible ways to resolve their differences.

“The coordination and cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad in the security field” was another topic discussed in the meeting, which the statement said was aimed at reaching a better future for the nation's people.

Pleased to receive the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Falih al-Fayyadh in Salahadin, Erbil. We discussed the latest developments insofar as the threat of ISIS is concerned.

— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) March 15, 2019

The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, was also present at the meeting.

Masoud Barzani, the former President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region, currently holds no official governmental post but continues to remain an important Kurdish political figure in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The meeting comes as the Islamic State continues to launch insurgency attacks, ambushes, and kidnappings in various parts of the country, despite Iraq’s military victory against the jihadist group announced in Dec. 2017.

Kurdish leaders have since repeatedly expressed their concerns about the extremist group, mainly in the disputed territories, and have warned Iraqi officials about threats of its re-emergence in the country. 

Editing by John J. Catherine