Masrour Barzani, Coalition Commander discuss US-Peshmerga cooperation amid IS resurgence
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani on Thursday met with Major General Walter Piatt, the recently appointed Commander of Coalition ground forces (known by the acronym, CJFLCC-OIR) to discuss further cooperation between US and Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
According to a readout on the KRSC website, the meeting between Chancellor Barzani and Major General Piatt was “part of their regular consultations.”
The two had met in Erbil at the end of March where the senior Kurdish official expressed his concerns to Piatt about “instability in Iraq.”
Discussions were similar on Thursday, as the KRSC Chancellor discussed with Piatt the latest Islamic State (IS) activities in Kirkuk, Mosul, and Anbar, as well as the group’s remaining pockets in Syria.
Barzani emphasized the importance of US-Kurdish cooperation, “particularly in the anti-IS campaign” as well as “training, equipment, and support for Peshmerga forces.”
The two officials also “reviewed the need for Iraqi Security Forces-Peshmerga Forces coordination in disputed territories to prevent further instability.”
The KRSC statement said that “developments in Syria and upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections were also part of their conversation.”
“Both officials agreed to maintain a close relationship in the important period ahead and look forward to future consultations on issues of mutual concern,” it added.
Fruitful talks with MG Walter Piatt — Discussed Kurdistan Region-US military cooperation; ISIL activities in Kirkuk, Mosul and Anbar and remaining pockets in eastern Syria. Readout: https://t.co/kiysIKdnAH pic.twitter.com/jYrhU0c8Uk
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) April 19, 2018
Earlier in the week, Barzani met with Chief of Office Security Cooperation – Iraq Major General Bradley Becker to discuss cooperation between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces amid a resurgence of IS in the region.
The Major General also briefed Barzani “on future US support for integrating, reorganizing, and training programs for ISF, including Peshmerga,” while the KRSC Chancellor highlighted the importance of providing “a fair share of training, weapons, and equipment” to Kurdish forces.