Senior Shia party member threatens Peshmerga: ‘We are coming, Bashiqa’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP) on Monday responded to threats made by a senior member of an Iraqi Shia party against Peshmerga forces in the areas liberated from the Islamic State (IS).

Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi, a senior member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), a Shia political party, called for a battle against the Kurdish forces.

“We will not need a new battle but rename the current one to ‘We are coming, Bashiqa’ in response to some people who refuse to withdraw from areas liberated by Peshmerga,” Zubeidi stated.

In a statement released on its website, the KRP expressed concern over the remarks by the senior member of the ISCI leadership, stating they had good historical relations with the Council and its leaders.

“Without the accomplishments of the Peshmerga, the Iraqi security forces would not have been able to gain such military achievements alone, as Peshmerga forces destroyed [IS] defense lines,” the statement added.

“The Kurdistan Region experienced many threats throughout its history,” the KRP statement continued.

The statement added Kurds had experienced examples of threats under Saddam Hussein, his army, and his sophisticated weapons.

Moreover, the KRP pointed to the emergence of the IS terror group which exceeded Hussein’s brutality and strength, stating “all [threats] were destroyed above the lofty mountains of Kurdistan.”

“Our people defend civilization and humans, and whoever wants to try his luck, our mountains are still lofty,” the statement concluded.

Zubeidi had served in three ministerial positions since 2003 including Minister of Finance during Nuri al-Maliki’s premiership from 2006-2010.

He was Minister of Interior during Ibrahim Jaafari’s term from 2005-2006, and Minister of Housing and Reconstruction during the Iraqi transitional government in 2004-2005.

He was also the commander of the al-Badr Brigade Shia militia.

“We currently have a strong army, and Hashd al-Shaabi that borders and barriers cannot be stopped as they have terrified and terrorized the enemies of Iraq,” Zubeidi stated.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany