Islamic State remains a threat to Kurdistan until Mosul liberated
An official from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga says that Kurdish forces will play an important role in the liberation of Mosul because the Islamic State (IS) has to be wiped out of Iraq for the Region to be safe.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – An official from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga says that Kurdish forces will play an important role in the liberation of Mosul because the Islamic State (IS) has to be wiped out of Iraq for the Region to be safe.
Jabar Yawar, Secretary General of Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, in an interview with Kurdistan24 on Tuesday said that “For as long as IS dwells in in Mosul, they remain a threat to Kurdistan Region. Therefore Peshmerga forces will play an important role in the upcoming clashes in Mosul.”
Yawar was asked whether the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Watani forces deployed in the Kurdistan Region will leave the Region. He said that Qayyara airbase will be a base for the Iraqi forces to launch the operation of Mosul liberation.
“Following the liberation of al-Qayyara and the surrounding villages of the airbase, all Iraqi forces currently stationed near Makhmour in the Kurdistan Region will be transferred to the airbase,” Yawar added.
Regarding the military assistance provided for the Iraqi government by the Coalition and the Kurdistan Region’s share in those aid packages, Yawar said, “Anytime the US provides assistance to Iraq, Kurdistan Region receives a percentage.” He offered the example of the two Peshmerga brigades that have been armed with US weapons.
“In regard to financial assistance to the Iraqi federal government, the Kurdistan Region will also have a share and will receive $415 million. Hopefully the money will arrive in July or August so we can pay the salary of Peshmerga forces,” Yawar told Kurdistan24.
On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on military coordination and on assisting Peshmerga forces militarily and financially.
Yawar said that three to five percent of the Kurdistan Region territory is still under the control of IS, emphasizing that “Peshmerga forces have plans to liberate the entire area.”
On July 7, Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani supervised a meeting between the Peshmerga forces, representatives of the Iraqi army, Hashd al-Watani forces and international coalition against IS, to stress the coordination and cooperation of all sides in the Mosul liberation operation.
Editing by Ava Homa