ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Inflammatory new Islamic State footage purportedly showing three Peshmerga being beheaded has drawn the wrath of a senior Kurdish statesman who said "this terror will only strengthen our resolve." The release Thursday night of footage showing Kurdish-speaking members of the Islamic State decapitating three members of the Kurdish forces prompted Barham Salih, former prime minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), to declare this Saturday's annual New Year celebration as "Newroz of defiance." “This should turn people against Daesh. Kurds should unite in support of Peshmerga martyr families and campaign for more effective international assistance to our people," Salih said. In the ISIS video, militants said in Kurdish: "This is the result of Peshmerga attacking our non-combatant areas”. Salih went on to say, “Newroz should be commemorated in a different way — Newroz is the day when Kawa, the Kurdish Peshmerga of his time, stood against Zuhak the tyrant.” “This Newroz should be celebrated for affirming the united message of Kurds against Daesh. Support the Peshmerga and Shehidan [martyr] families.” Salih summed up this year's attitude in Kurdistan as a “Newroz of defiance”.
