Iraqi, Kurdish military talks a ‘step in right direction’: Coalition
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US-led global coalition to defeat ISIS believes that talks underway between Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga mark progress.
"They have an agreement that is currently underway between Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga forces,” confirmed US Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the coalition spokesperson.
Earlier on Friday Iraq’s prime minister ordered a 24-hour halt to fighting after skirmishes between Iraqi forces, including the Iranian-backed paramilitary forces (PMF), and the Peshmerga.
"Hostilities have ceased since last night," Dillon told Rudaw on Friday evening, adding he was unaware of the particular units involved because the coalition doesn't have forces embedded with those forces.
He described the talks as a "step in the right direction” while explaining that the clashes have distracted air surveillance resources from de-ISIS efforts in western Iraq.
The coalition, ISF, and Peshmerga commanders have worked together over the past three years to rid extremists from 90 percent of the territory in Iraq that they once held, so Dillon believes the officers have some common ground.
"We are currently not active participants in these current discussions," Dillon. "We have encouraged those leaders that we have relationships with to sit at a table and have dialogue..."
An Iran-backed commander in Hashd al-Shaabi told BBC of a “military committee” between the two sides. A Kurdish official from President Masoud Barzani's media office told Reuters earlier today that a “ceasefire” was in place, and diplomatic efforts began with the goal of “talks to start between Erbil and Baghdad.”
The Kurdistan Regional Government agreed to “freeze” the outcome of the September 25 independence referendum, but Baghdad wants the referendum canceled.
The two have most recently clashed near the borders with Turkey and Syria. The central Iraqi government wants access to the border with Turkey in order to conduct direct trade with Turkey, especially oil. Baghdad wants to bring back online an old pipeline exporting Iraqi oil to Turkey’s Ceyhan port. The pipeline was damaged by militants and then the territory it runs through was taken over by ISIS.
US-Iraqi relations have taken a nosedive this week over the issue of Iranian influence on Baghdad, particularly the armed forces.
Dillon again explained that the coalition cannot provide support to some elements in the Iraqi security forces.
"Many who we cannot are underneath the popular mobilization group [PMF] – not all of them are the same,” he added. “But there are those that are affiliated with the government of Iran and have a history of human rights violations that we cannot work with and we do not work with."
The United States believes any non-Iraqi "outside players or influencers" should work "through the government of Iraq."
"Everyone should be working through the government of Iraq and with the prime minister," said Dillon.
"They have an agreement that is currently underway between Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga forces,” confirmed US Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the coalition spokesperson.
Earlier on Friday Iraq’s prime minister ordered a 24-hour halt to fighting after skirmishes between Iraqi forces, including the Iranian-backed paramilitary forces (PMF), and the Peshmerga.
"Hostilities have ceased since last night," Dillon told Rudaw on Friday evening, adding he was unaware of the particular units involved because the coalition doesn't have forces embedded with those forces.
He described the talks as a "step in the right direction” while explaining that the clashes have distracted air surveillance resources from de-ISIS efforts in western Iraq.
The coalition, ISF, and Peshmerga commanders have worked together over the past three years to rid extremists from 90 percent of the territory in Iraq that they once held, so Dillon believes the officers have some common ground.
"We are currently not active participants in these current discussions," Dillon. "We have encouraged those leaders that we have relationships with to sit at a table and have dialogue..."
An Iran-backed commander in Hashd al-Shaabi told BBC of a “military committee” between the two sides. A Kurdish official from President Masoud Barzani's media office told Reuters earlier today that a “ceasefire” was in place, and diplomatic efforts began with the goal of “talks to start between Erbil and Baghdad.”
The Kurdistan Regional Government agreed to “freeze” the outcome of the September 25 independence referendum, but Baghdad wants the referendum canceled.
The two have most recently clashed near the borders with Turkey and Syria. The central Iraqi government wants access to the border with Turkey in order to conduct direct trade with Turkey, especially oil. Baghdad wants to bring back online an old pipeline exporting Iraqi oil to Turkey’s Ceyhan port. The pipeline was damaged by militants and then the territory it runs through was taken over by ISIS.
US-Iraqi relations have taken a nosedive this week over the issue of Iranian influence on Baghdad, particularly the armed forces.
Dillon again explained that the coalition cannot provide support to some elements in the Iraqi security forces.
"Many who we cannot are underneath the popular mobilization group [PMF] – not all of them are the same,” he added. “But there are those that are affiliated with the government of Iran and have a history of human rights violations that we cannot work with and we do not work with."
The United States believes any non-Iraqi "outside players or influencers" should work "through the government of Iraq."
"Everyone should be working through the government of Iraq and with the prime minister," said Dillon.