Iraqi PM discusses Mosul operation with President Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani and the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi on Saturday discussed the latest developments on the Mosul operation and the affairs of the newly arrived displaced people in Kurdistan.

In an unannounced visit, Abadi, dressed in a military uniform and accompanied by a military delegation, arrived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region via a military helicopter.  

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani and the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani were also present, among other Kurdish officials.

Both sides discussed the current advances of the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces within the framework of the Mosul offensive.

They agreed the military coordination between both sides had resulted in great successes and accelerated the process of defeating the Islamic State (IS), according to the media office of the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

During the meeting, the Erbil and Baghdad governments discussed the affair of Mosul’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially the reconstruction of liberated areas and delivering of basic services to the people. 

In another part of the meeting, both parties emphasized the protection of ethnic and religious groups in Nineveh Province.

“Pleased to meet with @masoud_barzani in Erbil tonight. Good cooperation is leading to success on the battlefield. Mosul plan is working,” Abadi tweeted on his official Twitter account following the meeting.

Pleased to meet with @masoud_barzani in Erbil tonight. Good cooperation is leading to success on the battlefield. Mosul plan is working pic.twitter.com/Vsb7S3fnZd

— Haider Al-Abadi (@HaiderAlAbadi) November 5, 2016

In June 2014, IS occupied Mosul and large swaths of territory in northern Iraq, including Nineveh, Diyala, Salahaddin, and Anbar Provinces.

Since then, the extremist group has lost most of the areas it controlled and continues to shrink. 

On Oct. 17, Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces launched a military offensive to liberate Mosul.

The forces have already entered the city of Mosul from the east, and the operation is on-going.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Additional reporting by Mewan Dolamari)