Kirby to Kurdistan24: US supports Iraqi government plans against IS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Washington does not make decisions in Iraq, but supports the plans of the government of Iraq against the Islamic State (IS), said the US Spokesperson of State on Monday.

On July 22, Khalid al-Obeidi, the Defense Minister of Iraq, announced that Peshmerga forces would participate in the military operation to liberate Mosul from IS only if it were required.

Obeidi also said that if Peshmerga took part, they should withdraw to their areas in the Kurdistan Region.

On Monday, a Kurdistan24 reporter in Washington Laurie Mylroie raised the question to US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby. However, Kirby affirmed that Washington’s role in Iraq was to support the Iraqi government, not make decisions.

“Those are decisions that Iraqi leaders have to make [the strategy to retake Mosul]. Our job is to support the Government of Iraq,” Kirby stated.

“Obviously, we want to see Mosul retaken; everybody is committed to that goal, but this is an Iraqi plan, an Iraqi strategy, and we’re going to support them as they execute that,” he added.

Moreover, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani issued a statement on Monday, criticizing the Foreign Minister of Iraq Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

He pointed to Jaafari creating obstacles for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to US' participation in the US-led international coalition against IS meetings hosted in Washington.

“I haven’t seen those comments, and so I’m not going to put myself in the position of responding to remarks that I haven’t seen or were not aware of,” Kirby said.

“There was, of course, an Iraqi delegation led by that country’s foreign minister, which included a member of the KRG,” The Spokesperson of State continued.

“We left decisions of delegation participation up to that government, and the Iraqi government chose to include a member of the KRG,” Kirby concluded.

Kirby was positive about Kurds’ contribution in the battle against IS and praised the role of Peshmerga forces.

“They have been very effective, they have been very brave, they have been competent, and we have on many occasions said how much we appreciate that competence and that bravery, that skill on the battlefield,” he stated.

The US Spokesperson also highlighted the role of the US Presidential Special Envoy Brett McGurk in encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil governments by visiting the Region and meeting with Kurdish officials frequently.

Kurdistan shares over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of its border with IS in the north of Iraq.

Peshmerga has been labeled as one of the most efficient and competent ground troops in defeating the insurgents.

The federal government of Iraq is planning to liberate Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq. The city has been under the control of IS since June 2014.

However, according to the KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Baghdad does not have a plan for the Mosul offensive yet.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany