ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hadi al-Amiri, a senior Iraqi government and military leader, has downplayed reports of tensions between Shiite militia groups and Peshmerga forces. “We have cooperation with the Peshmerga at the highest level. Some media are intentionally making problems in between the People’s Mobilization Forces and the Peshmerga,” Amiri told Rudaw on Wednesday, referring to the Shiite militia group formed to battle ISIS. Amiri’s comments follow a speech by Kurdish President Masoud Barzani’s visit to Kirkuk on Tuesday where he announced that no military forces should be allowed to enter Kirkuk besides the Peshmerga. As reported by Rudaw, several Shiite militia groups were camped outside Kirkuk to assist in the fight against ISIS. “The People’s Mobilization Forces are able to go wherever if needed, said Amiri, ” who is also the head of the Shiite Badr Organization, which controls the People’s Mobilization Forces.
