President Barzani, US-led coalition commander discuss joint cooperation
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received US-led coalition commander Major General Kevin Leahy in Erbil on Tuesday to discuss regional security developments and strengthening cooperation.
“The latest developments in the security situation in Iraq and Syria were discussed, and the need to strengthen cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army with the international coalition forces was stressed,” said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
During the meeting, President Barzani affirmed that continued support from the international coalition is crucial for countering terrorism and “key for strengthening security in Iraq.”
“General Leahy praised the role of the Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed the commitment of the coalition forces to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to maintain peace and eliminate the threat of the Islamic State (ISIS),” the statement added.
ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in northern and central Iraq in 2014. But their so-called caliphate was brought to an end in 2017 when Iraqi and Kurdish fighters, supported by a United States-led international coalition, clawed back territory.
Despite its territorial defeat, ISIS has continued to pose a security threat in Iraq through hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions, particularly in the disputed territories that stretch across several provinces including Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.
“The latest developments in the security situation in Iraq and Syria were discussed, and the need to strengthen cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army with the international coalition forces was stressed,” said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
During the meeting, President Barzani affirmed that continued support from the international coalition is crucial for countering terrorism and “key for strengthening security in Iraq.”
“General Leahy praised the role of the Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed the commitment of the coalition forces to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to maintain peace and eliminate the threat of the Islamic State (ISIS),” the statement added.
ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in northern and central Iraq in 2014. But their so-called caliphate was brought to an end in 2017 when Iraqi and Kurdish fighters, supported by a United States-led international coalition, clawed back territory.
Despite its territorial defeat, ISIS has continued to pose a security threat in Iraq through hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions, particularly in the disputed territories that stretch across several provinces including Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.