International Crisis Group’s (ICG) Senior Iraq Analyst Lahib Higel. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Solutions must be found to the growing security vacuum in Kirkuk and across the disputed territories after a wave of terror attacks in recent months, says the International Crisis Group’s (ICG) Senior Iraq Analyst.
Speaking with Rudaw’s Shahyan Tahsin on Wednesday, the ICG’s Lahib Higel spoke of the options available to increase security in the disputed province, which has been subject to a series of attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) group in recent months.
Higel noted that a variety of forces are currently based in the province, including the Iraqi Army, counter-terror units, federal and local police, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi) – a network of paramilitary groups incorporated into the Iraqi security forces.
The sheer number of different forces is confusing locals, and has contributed to a lack of security in the area, Higel said.
“The multiplicity of actors has not only caused confusion among the civilian population, in terms of who is responsible for what, but also gaps and overlap between the security forces who are not coordinating in an optimal way.”
“There are still physical gaps that have not been filled…and there is intelligence that is now lost because many of these forces are external to the area,” she added.
A security vacuum across parts of the disputed territories – including Kirkuk– has been exploited by ISIS remnants to target civilians and forces present in the areas.
ISIS militants attacked the counter-terror headquarters in Kirkuk in April. The terror group launched three other attacks in the province earlier that month. Regular attacks have also taken place in Diyala province and in the Makhmour area of Erbil province, including kidnappings, arson, and ambushing Peshmerga and federal forces.
According to Higel, ICG recommends the Iraqi federal forces coordinate with Peshmerga to fill the security vacuum, and conduct “intelligence sharing, joint patrols and even joint operations in areas bordering other governorates,” including Makhmour, Diyala and Salahaddin.
The ICG has also suggested building a multi-ethnic local security force to protect the area, Higel added, an option which is said to be preferred by locals in Kirkuk.
However, the current economic crisis and political tensions prevent any progress from being made on this front.
“The financial situation in Iraq does not really support establishing a new force..it would be much more of a longer-term goal to achieve for Kirkuk,” she said, adding that Baghdad and Erbil must urgently discuss the security situation in the disputed territories.
"There has been conversations about budget and oil but there has not been so much a conversation about security, but right now the circumstances are begging for that to happen," she added.
Interview by Shahyan Tahsin
Speaking with Rudaw’s Shahyan Tahsin on Wednesday, the ICG’s Lahib Higel spoke of the options available to increase security in the disputed province, which has been subject to a series of attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) group in recent months.
Higel noted that a variety of forces are currently based in the province, including the Iraqi Army, counter-terror units, federal and local police, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi) – a network of paramilitary groups incorporated into the Iraqi security forces.
The sheer number of different forces is confusing locals, and has contributed to a lack of security in the area, Higel said.
“The multiplicity of actors has not only caused confusion among the civilian population, in terms of who is responsible for what, but also gaps and overlap between the security forces who are not coordinating in an optimal way.”
“There are still physical gaps that have not been filled…and there is intelligence that is now lost because many of these forces are external to the area,” she added.
A security vacuum across parts of the disputed territories – including Kirkuk– has been exploited by ISIS remnants to target civilians and forces present in the areas.
ISIS militants attacked the counter-terror headquarters in Kirkuk in April. The terror group launched three other attacks in the province earlier that month. Regular attacks have also taken place in Diyala province and in the Makhmour area of Erbil province, including kidnappings, arson, and ambushing Peshmerga and federal forces.
According to Higel, ICG recommends the Iraqi federal forces coordinate with Peshmerga to fill the security vacuum, and conduct “intelligence sharing, joint patrols and even joint operations in areas bordering other governorates,” including Makhmour, Diyala and Salahaddin.
The ICG has also suggested building a multi-ethnic local security force to protect the area, Higel added, an option which is said to be preferred by locals in Kirkuk.
However, the current economic crisis and political tensions prevent any progress from being made on this front.
“The financial situation in Iraq does not really support establishing a new force..it would be much more of a longer-term goal to achieve for Kirkuk,” she said, adding that Baghdad and Erbil must urgently discuss the security situation in the disputed territories.
"There has been conversations about budget and oil but there has not been so much a conversation about security, but right now the circumstances are begging for that to happen," she added.
Interview by Shahyan Tahsin
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