Fuad Hussein, the Kurdistan region’s presidential chief of staff, revealed in an interview with Turkey’s TRT World news that that authorities in Erbil did not have advance knowledge of the identities of the hostages in Thursday’s rescue operation in an ISIS prison in Hawija, Iraq.
“We hoped there would be some Kurdish Peshmerga hostages in there because the terrorists (ISIS) had caught some Peshmerga hostages and we thought some of those people were there,” TRT quoted Hussein as saying.
“We knew there were hostages there, but we did not know their identities,” he added. “Anyhow, we saved the lives of 69 innocent people.”
Hussein rejected claims that Baghdad was aware of the operation, citing the distance between the Kurdish and Iraqi war fronts.
Hussein also denied having any knowledge of information on ISIS that was reportedly seized at the site of the raid, but confirmed that six militants had been killed.
US Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said late Thursday that the Iraqi government had been informed of the operation.
"As for the hostage rescue operation I would like to make a few points: No.1, the Iraqi government was informed of this operation," said cook. "We conducted this operation in our advise and assist capacity.
"There has been no change in our policy (and) we are not conducting combat operations in Iraq,” he added.
Cook said: "Kurdish regional authorities requested American assistance to rescue hostages held by Daesh (ISIS), we agreed to provide helicopters to transport Kurdish forces."
"Kurdish forces attacked the Daesh prison where hostages being held, Kurdish forces killed 15 guards and freed 70 hostages," he added.
Cook expressed regret for the one American soldier killed in the operation.
He revealed that "the hostages have now told us they were to be executed that same day after morning prayer."
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani issued condolences for the death of the US soldier, Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler.
“On behalf of Kurdistan Regional Government and Kurdish people, I express my condolences to the family and friends of the brave soldier, and I wish speedy recovery for the wounded Peshmerga,” Barzani said in a statement.
