KRG delegation in Germany discussed Iraq’s military buildup near Peshmerga front lines: Spokesperson

The weapons and training provided by Germany for the Peshmerga forces have been decisive in defeating terror.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation who recently visited Germany highlighted the Iraqi government’s military buildup near Peshmerga front lines southwest of Erbil, a spokesperson told Kurdistan 24 on Tuesday.

KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee spoke to Kurdistan 24 about the KRG delegation’s meetings with German officials.

A KRG delegation headed by Prime Minister Barzani and accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and Chief of Staff to the KRG Presidency Fuad Hussein on Monday arrived in Berlin and met with Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Dizayee said the delegation expressed concerns over the recent military buildup by the Iraqi army and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias near Kurdish forces in Makhmour, southwest of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.  

The spokesperson noted the tensions between Erbil and Baghdad had been the main topic of discussion in the meetings with the German and Kurdish officials, adding that the German officials praised the KRG’s de-escalation efforts.

“Germany has been trying to mediate between the KRG and the Iraqi government to resolve the issues and guarantee the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region,” Dizayee explained.

The KRG spokesperson thanked the German defense ministry for the support they provided to the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and said he hoped the military support for the Kurdish forces would continue.

He also mentioned that the weapons and training provided by Germany for the Peshmerga had been decisive in defeating the terror organization.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany