Peshmerga commander lays down conditions for Iraqi army reentry to Jalawla

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Peshmerga forces will not allow the Iraqi army back into Jalawla, unless the Kurds have a substantial say in running that town and Sadiya, the Peshmerga commander of the Garmaser front warned.

Mahmood Sangawi told Rudaw that the Iraqis would not be allowed back into Jalawla “if they do not accept our conditions.”

He added that the Kurds must have a large role in the administration and security of the two towns, which were newly liberated from ISIS.

Sangawi added that security in Jalawla and Sadiya must be jointly administered by the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army.

“The commander of the Jalawla front and the head of intelligence must be Kurds,” he said.

“If they do not accept these conditions, we will never accept any military force or army in Jalawla except for the Peshmarga,” he warned.