President Barzani: ‘We do not conquer anyone’s land’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Masoud Barzani, the Kurdistan Region President, said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday that Peshmerga forces do not conquer anyone's land.

The Kurdistan Region president discussed the fight against Islamic State (IS), the role of Peshmerga forces in the Mosul operation and the post-IS Mosul.

President Barzani said that the operation against IS will continue, the first phase of which has already started and Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army have liberated nearly 300 kilometers of land from IS.

President Barzani added that the fight has advanced, and for now IS mainly depends on car bombs, mines, suicide personnel, and burning black oil to create smoke and hamper airstrikes. “These did not prevent the advance of the Peshmerga,” he explained.

Barzani added, “The existence of IS on Mosul will remain a constant threat on the Kurdistan Region” because the city is 60 kilometers from Duhok and 80 kilometers from Erbil, the capital of the Region.

Regarding the future of the areas liberated from IS by Peshmerga, Barzani stated that, “We do not want to conquer anyone’s land but the Kurdish lands are Kurdish lands.”

Barzani explained  that the philosophy of the Kurdistan Region is to diminish terror and "whenever we can hit the terrorists we will do that, we always say that anyone helps us against terrorists we welcome it."

“These terrorists made life very difficult for the people of Kurdistan and also for the security of EU and the world. This is a big fight, a big war. I am optimistic that Peshmerga are good fighters and they will be able to diminish IS in coordination with the Iraqi army and coalition,” President Barzani told CNN.

“This is the first time Peshmerga and Iraqi army fight against one enemy,” Barzani said in regards to the coordination with the Iraqi army during the Mosul operation.

Concerning the future of Mosul after the defeat of IS, Barzani added that “We would have liked to have a political plan along with a military plan on how to manage and administrate Mosul, because the city hosts a variety of religious and ethnic groups.”

President Barzani also said that “There must be a new form for Mosul and most importantly the components of Mosul have to be reassured that they will not face this crisis again.”

“Either have a common administration or some administration divisions in order to ensure a good future for all these components and this has to be discussed with the people of Mosul and related parties,” President Barzani stated.

Editing by Ava Homa