President Barzani praises role of US-led coalition airstrikes in defeating Jihadists

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – The President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani on Tuesday discussed the recent Sinjar liberation with several delegates from the United States in Erbil, praising the role of international coalition airstrikes in weakening Islamic State (IS) militants.

On Tuesday, Barzani met with a high-level diplomatic and military delegation from the United States which included a number of State Department and Department of Defense officials, and was headed by U.S. Army General Lloyd Austin, the Commander of the Central Command (Centcom).

The meeting was also attended by the Kurdistan Regional Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani, head of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa, Interior and Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari, and other high-ranking KRG officials.

In the meeting, President Barzani discussed military operations against the jihadists in the country, especially the successful operation in liberating the Kurdish-Yezidi town of Sinjar, in northern Iraq. Gen. Austin offered his congratulations for the successful operation.

The delegation also discussed the advance of Peshmerga forces in freeing additional Kurdish territories where extremists have been weakened in the area.

President Barzani praised the support of the US-led coalition airstrikes in defeating IS insurgents, stating that it is a big asset for Peshmerga forces to liberate IS-occupied areas.

Erbil-Baghdad relations was another major discussion point during the meeting and  President Barzani and Gen. Austin discussed aspects that were needed to enhance the coordination between the KRG and the federal Iraqi  government regarding  future military plans against IS insurgents.