SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Co-presidents Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi met with Brigadier Richard Bell, Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR), in Sulaimani on Friday.
The officials discussed the latest political, economic and security developments in the country, the PUK co-leaders’ office said in a statement.
They also stressed the importance of military and security coordination between the Region and the U.S.-led Coalition forces, including arming and training the Kurdish forces in the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) and to preserve security and stability of the region, the statement said.
The PUK co-leaders warned of ISIS’ movements, threats and regrouping in Iraq and Syria, stressing on a “new military strategy” to confront terror, according to the statement.
“The continued joint security coordination between Peshmerga, Iraqi forces and Coalition was considered important,” the statement said. “The formation and activation of the security operations rooms in the disputed territories were also considered important.”
The PUK co-presidents called on the coalition forces to play a greater role and to participate in the joint security rooms, the statement read.
Three joint operations rooms between the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces have been established in Kirkuk, Khanaqin and Makhmour so far.
Following attacks by ISIS militants against the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in disputed territories, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered establishing joint operations rooms in those areas to prevent further attacks.
Kurdish officials have repeatedly warned that the militants are using a “security vacuum” between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces to carry out attacks in the disputed territories.
Regarding the unification of the Peshmerga forces, the PUK co-leaders stressed on efforts to unite the Kurdish forces on the basis of “balance and partnership, taking into account national unity and public interests,” their office said.
“The PUK is making every effort to form a united patriotic Kurdistani force that protects our land and people,” Talabani and Sheikh Jangi was cited as saying.
They also considered the support and assistance of the Coalition forces necessary in this regard, the statement said.
