PM Barzani, top Iraqi security official stress security coordination

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday received Abdul Karim Abd Fadhil, head of the Iraqi National Security Service (INSS).

At the meeting, both sides stressed the development of security coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government.

As part of the fight against ISIS, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have established security agreements with the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Since 2017, ISIS has exploited security gaps along the border of the Kurdistan Region with Iraq, known as the so-called “disputed territories,” where it launches hit-and-run style attacks against security forces and civilians.

These gaps were created following the Kurdistan Region's 2017 independence referendum after Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed militias of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) pushed the Peshmerga out of Kirkuk and other disputed territories. 

At the time, Iraqi and Kurdish forces cut off all military cooperation.

Despite this, the two sides have resumed military ties and regularly conduct joint operations against ISIS in an effort to combat the resurgence of the terror group.

However, there has also been sporadic tension. Earlier on Oct. 22, Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga fired upon each other in Makhmour, resulting in the deaths of three Peshmerga.

However, relations were quickly restored after a deal on Nov. 2 between the Ministry of Peshmerga and the Iraqi Armed Forces to coordinate in Makhmour.

Editing by Dastan Muwaffaq