Senior coalition official visits Peshmerga forces near Makhmour

"We also discussed the necessity for the formation of joint forces between the Iraqi Army and the Peshmerga."

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2022/01/25 09:18

Major General Sirwan Barzani on Monday met with Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich, director of the Military Advisory Group - North (Photo: Sirwan Barzani/Twitter).

Kurdistan ISIS Makhmour Peshmerga Sirwan Barzani Ministry of Peshmerga US-led Coalition

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Major General Sirwan Barzani, Commander of Sector 6, welcomed a delegation of the US-led coalition against ISIS near Makhmour on Monday.

"At Sector 6, we welcomed @CJTFOIR. We discussed the security situation and the latest activities by #ISIS," he tweeted.

At Sector 6, we welcomed @CJTFOIR. We discussed the security situation and the latest activities by #ISIS. We agreed on the necessity of forming joint #Peshmerga and Iraqi Army units to ensure there is no safe haven for ISIS. pic.twitter.com/k1EltCIWvN
— Sirwan Barzani (@SirwanBarzani_) January 24, 2022

"We agreed on the necessity of forming joint #Peshmerga and Iraqi Army units to ensure there is no safe haven for ISIS."

The delegation included Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich, director of the Military Advisory Group - North, and Colonel Todd Burroughs, Deputy Director of the US-led coalition's Military Advisor Group North.

Barzani also confirmed on his Facebook page that they welcomed Brigadier General Ducich, Director of MAG-North, and his deputy Colonel Burroughs.

"We discussed the newest developments on the security of the area and the latest activities by ISIS," he wrote. "We also discussed the necessity for the formation of joint forces between the Iraqi Army and the Peshmerga to close the gap that is becoming a haven for ISIS."

"We have made very good progress so far (on joint brigades), "Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich told Kurdistan 24 on Monday during a separate event.

"And we look forward to that from being finalized and those brigades to being trained and deployed along with the KCL (Kurdistan Coordination Lines, the frontline between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army)."

Ducich added that the coalition, especially the United States, has continually shown its support for the Peshmerga.

"I am confident that you'll see that continued support," he said. "We have a fantastic plan in collaboration with a MOPA (Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs), and I do not see any breaking support at all."

Ducich also met the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorsh Ismail on Sunday. They discussed the "importance of starting and operating the two joint brigades between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army in areas with security gaps," Ismail wrote on his Facebook page.

Also, Col. Burroughs told Kurdistan 24 on Sunday that "cooperation and coordination between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces is essential to secure the enduring defeat of Daesh (ISIS)."

"Both the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) and Peshmerga are making continuous progress toward the formation of two joint brigades to operate in the disputed area," he added.

Anti-ISIS operations and cooperation between the Iraqi Army and the Kurdish Peshmerga markedly increased in the disputed territories since late November, following the killing of 23 Peshmerga fighters and civilians in multiple ISIS attacks.

The Iraqi Army and Peshmerga forces also recently increased their cooperation in the media field.