President Barzani releases statement about Mosul operation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – There is an agreement between Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces on the Mosul battle and Peshmerga fully abide by the agreement, President Barzani said on Saturday.

In a statement, the president of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani said the liberation of Mosul is “among the top priorities” for Kurdistan and has its importance and value.

“It is therefore necessary to announce that the preparation for the operation to liberate Mosul [has] been completed,” Barzani said.

“The preparations were reached after an agreement between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military forces,” the President added.

He mentioned the duties of all forces for the operation had been determined in detail.

Additionally, President Barzani emphasized that Peshmerga fully abides by the agreement.

The President also noted there is cooperation between Peshmerga and the Iraqi army.

“There is complete coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military forces in pursuit of preventing all undesired events,” he continued.

Moreover, President Barzani said Erbil and Baghdad had agreed to form a “joint higher political committee” to control and supervise the situation following Mosul’s liberation.

He hoped the operation would be done successfully, and the people of Mosul would be freed from the “tyranny” of the Islamic State (IS).

He also wished the displaced people of Nineveh province would be able to return happily to their areas.

In June 2014, IS emerged in Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq and expanded to several provinces in the country.

The group has since lost most of its territories it held before.

Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces with the US-led coalition are currently preparing to launch the key operation to clear the city and end IS’ self-claimed caliphate in Iraq.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany