International community must arm forces fighting IS

Masrour Barzani stated on Wednesday that the international community has to provide full military and logistical support to the ground forces that fight Islamic State (IS).

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor, Masrour Barzani stated on Wednesday that the international community has to provide full military and logistical support to the ground forces that fight Islamic State (IS).

On Wednesday, Barzani received the British Prime Minister’s special envoy for Security Affairs to the Middle East, Tom Beckett and his accompanied delegation in Erbil. In the meeting, Barzani discussed the current military situation along the front lines south of the Kurdistan Region in particular, and Iraq in general, emphasizing that destroying IS demands a comprehensive, collective international effort.

Barzani noted that in order to defeat IS, "the international community has to provide full military and logistical support to the ground forces that fight IS," urging more aid for the Kurdish Peshmerga.

Additionally, Barzani praised Peshmerga's bravery in pushing IS out of most of Kurdish territories and affirmed that the Kurdistan Region is home to nearly two million refugees and internally displaced peoples (IDPs). “Kurdistan Region has faced a financial crisis, and it concerns everyone,” Barzani added.

In another part of the meeting, the British envoy discussed the role of Peshmerga in defeating IS in northern Iraq and Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan). He stated that the current situation would have been worse if there were no Kurdish forces or aerial support from the U.S.-led coalition. Beckett praised Kurdish forces in general and Peshmerga in particular that continue to defeat and repel IS attacks.

In the meeting, both sides agreed that it is vital to officially invite Kurdish officials to international conferences that focus on combating IS as Kurds have effective ground forces battling IS. The meeting also addressed the fact that future international conferences will be more effective if Kurds directly participate. 

On Wednesday, Beckett also met the President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani in Erbil. They discussed the current situation on the front lines and the military needs of Peshmerga forces.

In the meeting, Beckett stated that Great Britain is aware of the financial crisis in the Kurdistan Region due to the cost of the war, influx of refugees and IDPs, and the sharp decrease of world oil prices. 

President Barzani shed light on the Peshmerga successes, stating that Kurdish forces continuously defeat IS along all front lines.

Since the emergence of IS in Iraq in June 2014, Peshmerga have been one of the most successful ground forces, and have been able to push IS from much of northern Iraq, liberating most of the territories occupied by IS extremists.