KRG: Strong cooperation between Peshmerga, UK
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The UK will continue to train Peshmerga and send military aid to the Kurdistan Region to sponsor the fight against the Islamic State (IS), a UK official said on Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, the UK Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon and his accompanied delegate arrived in Erbil, the regional capital of Kurdistan.
The day after, Fallon met the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani. During the meeting, the UK delegation praised the people of Kurdistan and Peshmerga forces in protecting all ethnic and religious minorities as well as repelling IS attacks, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) media office.
Both sides discussed Mosul military operation and agreed that Peshmerga can play an influential role in the offensive in cooperation with the federal government of Iraq and the US-led coalition. They also highlighted the post-IS Mosul situation and emphasized that the security of those areas should be protected.
According to the KRG, Fallon said that the UK will continue to support Peshmerga forces as there is strong cooperation between Peshmerga Ministry and UK Defense Ministry.
He also noted that the UK will help the KRG by providing the humanitarian assistance as more internally displaced persons (IDPs) are expected to flee to the Region.
Barzani hoped that the UK will play its role in encouraging communication between the ethnic and religious groups of Mosul after the city is liberated.
Prime Minister also mentioned that the international community should provide more aide to the Kurdistan Region as more civilians are expected to escape to the Region, and the KRG currently suffers from a critical financial crisis and is unable to accommodate all the IDPs.
In another part of the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening relations between the Kurdistan Region and the UK.
On Thursday, Fallon also met the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani and discussed the current situation in the Region and Iraq as well as Mosul offensive.
Editing by Ava Homa