SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Bafel Jalal Talabani said on Monday the continuity of political conflict deteriorates the security situation in Iraq.
Talabani met with UK’s new ambassador to Iraq Mark Bryson-Richardson and Consul General to Erbil David Hunt in Sulaimani on Monday, his office said in a statement.
The two sides discussed political, economic and security issues as well as the situation after Iraq’s parliamentary election in October, the statement read.
Regarding security threats and movements of Islamic State (ISIS) remnants, Talabani said the joint coordination centers between Peshmerga, Iraqi forces and U.S.-led Coalition forces should be further activated to overcome challenges, according to his office.
“The continuity of political conflict worsens the security situation,” Talabani was cited as saying.
“There should be joint plans and strategies to confront terrorists and to prevent their movement,” he added.
His remarks came after five members of the Peshmerga forces were killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) hit their vehicle as it was carrying a few Peshmerga who were wounded during clashes with ISIS militants in Kulajo sub-district in Diyala province on Saturday night.
The Kurdish forces thwarted another ISIS attack in Kifri district on Sunday night.
ISIS militants have increased attacks against the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the disputed areas claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
Earlier this month, the militants carried out two attacks against the Peshmerga forces in the disputed areas.
On October 31, two members of the Peshmerga forces were killed in another ISIS attack near Prde, south of Erbil.
The Peshmerga ministry said the militants continued to use a security gap between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces to attack the Peshmerga.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December 2017 but the militants have regrouped in the Hamrin mountain range which extends into the northern provinces – an area described by officials as a “triangle of death”.
