PUK official warns of the growing threat of ISIS

Kurdistan 04:49 PM - 2021-12-04

On Saturday, Nineveh organizations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) warned of the growing threats of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist gangs, pointing out that the lack of coordination between the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga is one of the most important reasons for the increase in terrorist operations.

In an exclusive statement to PUKmedia, Ghayath Surchi, media head at the Nineveh Organizations Center of the PUK, said that "the threats of ISIS terrorist organization are increasing day after day," explaining that terrorist operations target all areas between the points of the federal army and the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces.

"The security gaps and lack of coordination are among the reasons for the growth of terrorist threats," he said, noting that 40 km separates the terrorists and the Peshmerga forces in some areas.

He pointed out that the number of terrorists in Mount Qarachogh (one of the regions disputed between Erbil and Baghdad), according to estimates, does not exceed 200-300 terrorists. 

"We should not forget that 400-500 terrorists managed to occupy all of Nineveh Governorate," he said.

Surchi also confirmed that there are deficiencies in equipment and the lack of coordination between the army and the Peshmerga, pointing out that a large-scale attack by the army and the Peshmerga would defeat the terrorists in Mount Qarachogh.

Iraq has announced a military victory over ISIS in 2017 after 3 years of battle with the terrorists. However, remnants of the group continue to impose threats, especially in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad. 

Attacks on Peshmerga points increased recently as last Thursday, a dozen Peshmerga personnel were killed in an ISIS attack near Makhmur, 60 km (40 miles) southwest of Erbil. Before that 5 Peshmerga members were killed last Saturday by a roadside bomb explosion following thwarting a terrorist attack in the Kulajo district of the Garmian region-Kurdistan Region.  

On Saturday, the US State Department renewed its support for the Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that his country expresses "deep concern" about the continued escalation of attacks by ISIS terrorist organization throughout Iraq. read more

A delegation from the Kurdish Ministry of Peshmerga met in Baghdad on Saturday with Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) to discuss the recent terrorist attacks and ways to develop joint plans and increase coordination and cooperation between the two sides. read more

The disputed areas and their surroundings are still a hotspot for ISIS activities. The terrorists' sleeper cells exploit the security gaps between Kurdish and Iraqi forces. 

ISIS militants ambush, kidnap, and extort both civilians and members of the security forces in the disputed areas, which stretch across several provinces, including Kirkuk, Nineveh, Diyala, and Saladin.

Kurdish officials have repeatedly warned that ISIS militants are using “security gaps” between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces to carry out attacks in the disputed territories.

Despite the announcement of forming joint military units in those regions, however, the decision has not been put into effect so far.



PUKmedia 

see more

Most read

The News in your pocket

Download

Logo Application

Play Store App Store Logo
The News In Your Pocket