Kirkuk is under no threat: Peshmerga commander

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Denying rumors to the contrary, a Peshmerga commander stated that Kirkuk is under no threat and the Islamic State (IS) is at no position to launch an attack on this city.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Wasta Rasool, the Peshmerga commander of the southern Kirkuk front, stated that the city of Kirkuk is protected by the Peshmerga forces in the frontlines and the security forces inside the city.

Rasool added that baseless rumors spread in the past few days about the security situation in Kirkuk province will only serve the IS group's interest.

“IS extremists have no capability and strength left to launch attacks on Peshmerga forces,” he added.

On Wednesday, Hassan Turan the Deputy Head of Turkmen Front in Iraq called upon the Iraqi government to send reinforcement to Kirkuk to prevent armed robbery, murder and abductions inside the city of Kirkuk.

"We call upon the central government's intervention to stop such acts and liberate the Islamic State (IS)-held city of Hawija through military reinforcement," Turan said.

Nuri Ali, a Peshmerga commander in the southern Kirkuk frontlines told Kurdistan24 that the frontlines are well-protected by the Peshmerga forces but there is a very little IS movements in the area and there is no threat to Kirkuk.

Kirkuk Suburban Police Chief Sarhad Qadir previously told Kurdistan24 that Kirkuk province had been a strategic target for the Islamic State (IS) in the past two years.

He mentioned IS had conducted over 16 offensives on Peshmerga front lines from the southern and western border of the province.

Editing by Ava Homa