Following Kirkuk fall, Tillerson tells Abadi to avoid ‘confrontation'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US Secretary of State met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad on Monday as he urged Iraq to avoid “confrontation” following a week-long military standoff between the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.

 

It is the second time the two met in two days. The two were both in Saudi Arabia on Sunday as part of a new era of relations between Baghdad and Riyadh.

 

“Tillerson stated that Washington supports the unity of Iraq and the importance of commitment to the constitution,” read the Iraqi readout of their meeting in Baghdad.

 

It added that America's top diplomat expressed his country’s call for “dialogue and avoiding any confrontation.”

 

Earlier in the day, the Kurdistan Region Security Council stated that Iraqi forces have “shown zero signs of de-escalating their military aggression” on the borders with the Kurdish-controlled areas.

 

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani told reporters Monday that Iraq’s continued military operations hinder launching talks between the two sides. He said, however, that they are ready to enter serious discussions with the Iraqi government on the basis of Iraq’s constitution.

 

PM Abadi told Tillerson that what took place in Kirkuk and other disputed areas was “redeployment [of forces] and returning state authority.” They do not want to wage war against any of Iraq’s components, he said.

 

The war against ISIS is still Iraq’s “priority” and Abadi said his forces will continue to liberate the remaining areas.

 

The two had earlier sparred over Iranian influence in Iraq. Tillerson on Sunday said that “Iranian militia” in Iraq must “go home” now that the war on ISIS is ending.

 

Abadi responded that the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi is an official institution under Iraqi command and all its fighters are Iraqi.

 

“We have to encourage the Hashd because they will become the hope for the country and the region,” Abadi was quoted as telling Tillerson Monday evening.

 

There was not an immediate readout from the American side.

 

The Kurdistan Regional Government has already welcomed a statement from the US State Department on Friday that called on Baghdad and Erbil to coordinate their movements in the disputed areas and to begin dialogue. The US also stressed the status of the disputed areas according the Iraqi constitution.