SULAIMANI (ESTA) — U.S.-led Coalition Forces supports establishing joint coordination centers (JCC) between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, a spokesperson for the Coalition said.
Kurdish officials have repeatedly called for establishing joint coordination centers between the Iraqi army and Peshmerga forces to prevent attacks by Islamic State (ISIS) militants who use a “security vacuum” between Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
ISIS militants attacked the Peshmerga forces near Prde town in south of Erbil in the early hours of Saturday. Three members of the Kurdish forces were killed and two others injured during clashes with the militants.
The Region’s Ministry of Peshmerga blamed the “security vacuum” between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the disputed areas, created after the Iraqi forces retook control of those areas from the Peshmerga forces in October 2017 in the wake of the independence referendum.
Iraqi and Kurdish military officials have held several meetings to establish joint coordination centers in those areas to prevent more ISIS attacks against the security forces.
U.S. Coalition Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto told Esta Media Network that the Peshmerga forces and Iraqi security forces both work out of the Joint Coalition Coordination Center (JCCC) at Camp Zeravani in Erbil.
The JCCC was established in 2015 to coordinate operations between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military in the fight against ISIS, according to the Peshmerga Ministry.
The ministry of Peshmerga also has liaison officers (LNOs) at the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad that also assist in coordination efforts between Iraqi and Kurdish security forces, Marotto noted.
“The Coalition supports establishing 4 Joint Coordination Centers along the KCL [Kurdish Coordination Line] in Diyala, Kirkuk, Makmur, and Ninewa,” he told Esta Media Network, referring to Makhmour in southwest of Erbil and Nineveh province.
“The Coalition commends the improving relationship and renewed willingness to coordinate between the Peshmerga Forces and ISF,” he said.
“Greater liaison and cooperation”
Following the ISIS attack against the Peshmerga forces, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the militants took advantage of the “security vacuum” between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
He also stressed the importance of implementing security coordination between the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga forces.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani called on the Iraqi government and the Coalition forces to speed up efforts to form a joint force between Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga in the disputed territories.
“To achieve long term security and stability in Iraq it is important for there to be greater liaison and cooperation between the KRG and GoI, especially in disputed territories where Daesh exploit the gaps to gain more freedom to maneuver,” Marotto told Esta Media Network, using an acronym for the Iraqi government.
“The CJTF-OIR goal is that coordination is developed between KSF and ISF to the point that it allows no sanctuary for Daesh fighters,” he said.
Marotto further said the presence of the Coalition forces “is critical” with their enabling support which provides intelligence, operational advising, air support, logistics, and special operations forces to defeat ISIS and to prevent their resurgence.
“The Coalition are welcomed guests in Kurdistan that are essential to both Iraqi Arabs and Iraqi Kurd’s in the defeat Daesh mission,” he added.
“The Coalition’s presence ensures Kurdistan has increased regional stability.”
The Coalition Forces led by the United States was formed in 2014 when ISIS militants overran large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
In December 2020, the Coalition forces told Esta Media Network that it had funded more than $5 billion of support to equip and train Iraqi and Kurdish forces since 2014.
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”.
UK Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey said on Sunday that his country stood in solidarity with the Kurdistan Region, Peshmerga and Iraqis in the fight against ISIS.
“We will continue to provide military + development aid to Iraq to defeat Daesh,” Hickey said in a tweet. “We will support efforts by Baghdad + Erbil to end the security vacuum in the disputed territories.”
The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil also said the United States remained committed to standing with the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces to defeat ISIS in the country.
