Baghdad coordinates with Peshmerga on Hawija offensive: Source
Peshmerga forces. File photo.
Speaking to Shafaq News, the source said the two sides agreed on participation of Peshmerga in operations to liberate Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk, and regions in its vicinity.
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced launch of first phase of operations to liberate Hawija and western Shirqat. However, Lt.Gen.Jabbar Yawar, secretary general of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Peshmerga Ministry, said Peshmerga will not take part in the offensive.
In remarks earlier this month, Yawar denied news circulated in media over military tension between Peshmerga and the federal government over Hawija. Later, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Peshmerga Ministry, Maj.Gen. Qaraman Sheikh Kamal, said Baghdad cannot start the offensive without coordination with Peshmerga.
Kurdistan previously declared intentions to include Hawija within the referendum, slated for September 25.
Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria.
Other offensives were launched last week at the group’s havens in western Anbar’s borders with Syria.