UK Defense Secretary: Only Peshmerga stood between IS domination, freedom

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The UK Defense Secretary said the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga were the only force that stood between Islamic State (IS) domination and freedom. 

The UK Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon in a visit to a Peshmerga base near Erbil on Sunday said, “a couple of years ago, only the Peshmerga stood between the Da’esh domination and freedom."

It was the Peshmerga heroism that helped inspire the fight back against the IS extremists, Fallon said, adding that “I am here to congratulate you on successes in the campaign and also to pay tribute to the sacrifices involved in achieving that so far.” 

As a result of Peshmerga efforts, IS has lost more than 25,000 fighters and they currently hold less than 10 percent of territory in Iraq, Fallon said. 

Regarding continuation of military assistance to the Peshmerga forces, Fallon stated, “across the Coalition and Great Britain in particular, we are determined to help you maintain the momentum of this campaign because your fight is our fight too.” 

“We have been proud to offer our equipment and the expertise of our soldiers to help you [the Peshmerga forces] take this fight against Da’esh,” the British Secretary said during the speech. 

Since the war against IS, the British soldiers and advisers have trained more than 7000 Peshmerga fighters. 

The UK will stand ready to assist the Kurdistan Region when the fight is over through providing humanitarian aid, helping displaced people to return to their homes by providing essential services and establishing infrastructure, policing and security, Fallon concluded.

On Saturday, the UK Secretary of Defense and his accompanying delegation arrived in Erbil and were received by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Interior and Acting Minister of Peshmerga Karim Sinjari and the head of the Department of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa.

Editing by Delovan Barwari