Iraqi Defense Minister denies threatening to use army against Kurdish independence

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi army would not interfere in politics, said Iraqi Defense Minister Irfan al-Hayali on Monday, denying statements published by Iranian news outlets a day earlier.

Following his recent visit to Tehran and meeting with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani, Iranian news outlets quoted al-Hayali as saying the Iraqi army would intervene to "prevent any attempts or illegal measures aimed at dividing the country."

It was believed he was referring to the possible establishment of a Kurdish State once the referendum scheduled for Sep. 25, 2017, is held.

In an interview with Kurdistan 24, al-Hayali denied the statements attributed to him.

"The comments published under my name are far from the truth. We, as the military will not interfere in political affairs in the country, and we have not discussed this issue at all [in the meeting].”

He highlighted the fruitful cooperation between the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul. “The country could only succeed thanks to the sacrifices of Peshmerga and Iraqi army martyrs in the fight against our mutual enemy, Da’esh [IS].”

Al-Hayali, a Sunni minister from Anbar province, mentioned the Iraqi army would abide by a neutral stance over political differences.

Along with senior army commanders, he often stressed the need to distance the Iraqi army from internal conflicts, especially those related to politics.

The statements were quoted following a recent visit to Tehran, where joint agreements on military cooperation and the fight against "terrorism" were signed.

Following al-Hayali disputing the statements, Iranian news agencies updated the report stating the Minister was referring to “Takfiri groups” - such as IS.

Kurdish officials in the Kurdistan Region have insisted on holding an independence referendum, asserting the people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to decide on their future democratically.

Iran is one of the neighboring countries who strongly oppose the move, supporting a unified Iraq.

Editing by G.H. Renaud