Barzani discusses Mosul operation with UK Ambassador

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – On Wednesday, the KRG President discussed the current military situation along the front lines with the British envoy to Iraq.

President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masoud Barzani, met with British Ambassador to Iraq, Frank Baker and his accompanying delegates in the Regional capital, Erbil.

Both sides discussed the current political and security situation in Iraq and Kurdistan Region in particular and the wider region in general. Their discussion also centered on the situation along the front lines in Anbar, Nineveh, and other provinces.

The discussion also highlighted the future operation to liberate Mosul from IS with both agreeing that Peshmerga, Iraqi security forces, and the U.S.-led coalition should coordinate further to combat IS militants.

The second-largest city in Iraq, Mosul became occupied by IS in June 2014. Since that time, Kurdish Peshmerga forces have advanced and nearly encircled the city, liberating many areas previously controlled by IS. After the recent liberation of Ramadi by Iraqi security forces, Iraqi officials have begun discussing plans to liberate Mosul.

The economic crisis in Iraq and Kurdistan Region was another major topic of discussion as KRG is acutely suffering from an economic crisis. This crisis is largely due to over 1.8 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Region, continued budget share cuts from Baghdad, sharp decreases in international oil prices, and the war with IS, according to a member of Kurdistan Regional Parliament (KRP), Hiva Haji Mirkhan.

(Reporting by Mewan Dolamari, Editing by Benjamin Kweskin)