The Ministry of Peshmerga: The increase in IS movements is caused by the security vacuum between the Peshmerga lines and the Iraqi forces

ARK News… The Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga Monday confirmed that the recent increase in IS movements was caused by the security vacuum between the Peshmerga lines and the Iraqi forces, stressing that no agreement had been reached to fill this vacuum yet.

Lieutenant General Jamal Eminki told (BasNews): “The main reason for the increase in IS movements in Kirkuk and other Kurdish areas is the security vacuum that arose after the events of October 16, 2017, between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi forces, which created the conditions for IS to organize its ranks and increase from its movements in the region ».

He explained that «so far this security vacuum has not been filled, and it is clear that the Iraqi army is unable to fill the vacuum on its own, so IS has increased its movements and attacks in the (disputed) Kurdish areas day after day».

"Our contacts with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense officials have not been interrupted, and our meetings are continuing to increase coordination between us, but so far no clear date has been set for the completion of the meetings, and we have not yet reached an agreement with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense regarding bridging the security vacuum that exists between us," said Eminki.

Source: BasNews (translated from Arabic)

1411