ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The Kurdish region welcomes Russia’s participation in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) and its possible support for the Peshmerga forces, the region’s presidency said Saturday.
“The Kurdistan Region welcomes Russia if its helps the Peshmerga in the war against ISIS,” the office of President Masoud Barzani said in a statement.
Barzani’s office said that the Peshmerga are an effective partner in the US-led coalition against ISIS in Iraq.
“The Kurdistan Region welcomes any country or party that would help the Peshmerga against ISIS and in this light we welcome Russia’s participation,” read the statement.
The president’s office said that international coordination in the war was crucial for a better and more effective outcome.
“About the international effort to defeat the terrorist organization ISIS, if there is coordination between Russia and the international coalition there would be better outcome,” it said.
The Kurdish forces have lost 1,300 Peshmerga soldiers in the fight against ISIS since the radical group turned against the Kurdistan Region in August 2014.
Peshmerga ground troops coordinate with the Western coalition command center in Erbil.
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