Peshmerga Ministry condemns Iraqi army threats, ready to defend Kurdistan
“The Iraqi statement is a clear violation of the constitution by emphasizing the use of force and the army in solving domestic political differences,” the Ministry said, adding that “it is them [Iraqi forces] who are amassing weapons and troops to attack our people.”
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Peshmerga Ministry responded to threats of Iraqi army attacks on the Kurdistan Region by Baghdad, stating that the Kurdish Forces are on their defensive lines, ready to defend people of Kurdistan, their dignity, and properties.
The Ministry of Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in a statement released on Wednesday condemned the Iraqi Joint Operations Command's threats to attack the Kurdistan Region, calling for dialogue to resolve issues between Erbil and Baghdad.
“We assure that the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces are standing at their defensive positions but will not hesitate from [engaging and] defending the lives and constitutional and just interests of the people of Kurdistan,” the statement said.
The Iraqi Joint Operations Command in a statement on earlier that evening threatened the Kurdistan Region, claiming federal forces have been given orders to be deployed to secure areas and the border crossings located in the Region.
“Iraqi federal forces are mandated to secure areas and borders,” in the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi statement said, warning that if the Peshmerga open fire in defense of their territory, they would "be pursued by the force of federal law and will not be safe.”
The Peshmerga Ministry stated that “heroic Peshmerga forces are holding their defensive positions, protecting the will and dignity of millions of people of Kurdistan, their lives, honor, and properties,” referencing the “dark fate” that people of Khurmatu, Daquq, Kirkuk and other areas, faced.
“The Iraqi statement is a clear violation of the constitution by emphasizing the use of force and the army in solving domestic political differences,” the Ministry said, adding that “it is them [Iraqi forces] who are amassing weapons and troops to attack our people.”
“We reject the premise of the Joint Operations Command's statement completely and reiterate that the Kurdistan Region is firmly standing against any aggression. We want peace and dialogue, not war. Where else in the world are the attackers oppressed and defenders oppressors?” the statement concluded.
Editing by Nadia Riva