SULAIMANI (ESTA) — No units of Peshmerga forces have been moved against the Iraqi forces in Makhmour southwest of Erbil, the ministry of Peshmerga said on Wednesday.
“We declare that there is no unusual movement against the Iraqi forces,” the Kurdistan Region’s ministry of Peshmerga said in a statement.
The ministry added that units of the Peshmerga forces had made preparations in response to Islamic State (ISIS) attacks in Makhmour and Qarachogh areas after it received intelligence about movement of the militants.
“The intelligence is affirming that Daesh wants to carry out terrorist acts in those areas,” the ministry said.
“As preparations against any movement or danger posed by terrorists, part of military units of the Peshmerga forces are put on alert in Qarachogh mountain and northern Makhmour,” it added.
“The purpose of the preparations of Peshmerga forces is to prevent terrorist acts and to secure stability and security in those areas.”
The ministry’s statement came after a number of Kurdish media reported that the Peshmerga forces were moved to station in Makhmour to respond to attacks by the Iraqi military.
The ministry of Peshmerga said it had warned of dangers posed by ISIS militants in the disputed areas before, caused by a security vacuum between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
“We have continuously called for joint military coordination to eliminate terrorists,” the Peshmerga ministry said.
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”.
