SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A delegation from the ministry of Peshmerga visited Baghdad on Saturday to hold talks with Iraqi security officials, as Islamic State (ISIS) increased attacks against the forces.
The delegation arrived at the headquarters of Iraq’s Joint Operations Command in Baghdad on Saturday morning, state news agency INA reported.
Both sides will discuss security coordination and develop plans to prevent ISIS attacks, that killed dozens of civilians and members of the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the past weeks.
The delegation’s visit came after three civilians and 10 members of the Peshmerga forces were killed in ISIS attacks in the foothills of Qarachogh mountain near Makhmour, southwest of Erbil, on Thursday.
Qarachogh mountain, located 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil, has become a safe haven for the militants since Iraqi forces alongside Kurdish forces retook control of areas were once under the control of ISIS.
Thursday’s attack was the fifth attack carried out by the militants against the Peshmerga forces in the disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil.
Eight members of the Peshmerga forces were killed in the attacks in Kifri and Kulajo in Garmian administration, according to authorities.
Kurdish officials and analysts have long blamed a lack of coordination along a stretch of territory claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil for ISIS’ continued ability to wage deadly attacks.
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.
Islamic State controlled roughly a third of Iraq between 2014 and 2017, including the remote Makhmour region but also major cities including Mosul.
Iraqi forces, Kurdish troops and Iran-backed Shia militias defeated the militant group in 2017, but its members still roam areas of northern Iraq and northeastern Syria.
