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SALAHADDIN, Iraq – The Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army have joined forces in a part of territory contested by Erbil and Baghdad, coordinating on a stretch of road between Kifri in Diyala province, and Tuz Khurmatu in Salahaddin. Coordination has come after Islamic State (ISIS) increased their attacks on both parties.
"This area has a lot of issues. There was the presence of Daesh (ISIS) and other groups. But we've come here to provide security for the area," said Peshmerga Lieutenant Goran Hassan. "We came with enthusiasm to protect the people in these areas."
Tuz Khurmatu sits in a band of territory contested by Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.
Until 2017, the Peshmerga controlled the area. But following the Kurdish independence referendum in 2017, the Iraqi Army moved into the region and the Peshmerga withdrew.
Remnants of ISIS, who were declared territorially defeated in Iraq in December 2017, have been taking advantage of the resulting security gap, conducting ambushes, kidnappings and targeted killings.
The Peshmerga and Iraqi forces are now both present in the buffer zone.
"Before, we couldn't drive at night, because of the fear [threat] in the area. It was difficult. Now, it is good, praise be to God," said Wisam Ibrahim, a truck driver from the area. "On that side, there are the Kurdish brothers with good and organized checkpoints, and on this side there is the Iraqi army, thanks to God. They are cooperating and providing us with security."
The cooperative effort comes after meetings held between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and Iraq's defence ministry, where increased coordination was decided upon.
"The most important thing discussed in the meetings was the set up of joint headquarters in Kurdish areas outside the control of the KRG, such as in the provinces Nineveh, Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahaddin, and to fill the security gap. The gaps have now been filled, especially in areas around Tuz Khurmatu from which ISIS members used to benefit and freely move between these areas," Staff Brigadier General Hazhar Omer Ismail, Director of Coordination and Public Relations for the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs told Rudaw on Sunday.
Tensions between the two forces in the disputed territories continue, however, with the Iraqi federal police accused by a Kurdish official in Tuz Khurmatu of aiding resettled Arabs disputing Kurdish land ownership in the area - resulting in a clash between the two civilian groups on Sunday.
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