‘Great possibility’ of ISIS comeback: PM Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani has said that there is a "great possibility" the Islamic State (ISIS) will make a comeback,  warning it has more members than before its rise to power in 2014. 

In an interview with France 24 aired on Tuesday, Barzani said that the root causes of the group’s emergence are still present. 

“There is a great possibility of the reemergence of ISIS. They can regroup very easily and recruit because all the root causes that led to the rise of ISIS and the collaboration of people with ISIS still exist: there is no political instability, there is no prosperity and there is no strong security,” he told France 24’s Marc Perelman.  

“ISIS has more members today than they used to have in 2013, before they started to attack Syria and Iraq and created their own caliphate,” he added. 

The PM also called for increased cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad regarding security in the disputed territories, acknowledging that tensions have created a security vacuum in which ISIS can re-group. 

Disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, including the provinces of Kirkuk and Diyala, have been subject to increased insurgency attacks from ISIS remnants in recent months. 

US troops are “very much needed” to continue the fight against the terror group, Barzani added. 

US missile defense 

Bases hosting US troops  in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq were attacked by Iranian missiles in early January  following the assassination of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani by the US in Baghdad a few days earlier. 

This pushed Washington to seek permission from Baghdad to put a defense system in Iraq. 

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said late January that his country has asked Baghdad for permission to deploy a Patriot missile defense system in the country. 

“The US, like any other government, has the right to defend itself…it is up to them how they want to put their defense system to protect themselves,”  Barzani told Perelman in the interview.. 

 “They have been talking about putting a defense system here but obviously they are waiting to talk to the Iraqi government and get permission from the Iraqi government,” he said when asked if the KRG had been asked about the proposal.
 
He added that the KRG welcomes such a move.

Iraq protests

Barzani also addressed the political instability plaguing Baghdad. 

Discussing the protests that have gripped the south of the country since October, Barzani said the demonstrations were a result of years of “bad governance.”

However, he added that former Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi did not receive the support he “deserved” from other political factions in Baghdad. 

“The previous prime minister Mr Adil Abdul-Mahdi tried his best but unfortunately he did not enjoy the support that he deserved from other political factions to continue and implement his agenda. We do not think that he was responsible for all the problems that the country has,” he said.

Abdul-Mahdi resigned due to pressure from demonstrators but Iraqi political parties failed to agree on a replacement until Saturday, when Iraqi President Barham Salih appointed Mohammed Allawi, a former minister, to form a new cabinet despite his rejection by protesters.

PM Barzani hoped that Allawi “will enjoy much more support from both people and political factions so that he can be successful,” adding that he also hopes the PM-designate will “commit himself to finalizing  the agreement which we think is the best thing for the country.”

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