U.S., Peshmerga seeks getting 600 Islamic State members into disputed regions: Expert

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) A security expert has revealed intentions by the U.S., which leads the international coalition, backed by the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, to get more than 600 Islamic State members into provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin.

Speaking to Almaalomah website, Safaa al-Aasam said the meeting between Peshmerga and the coalition tackled returning the militants back to the country. “The meeting is an attempt to return Islamic State back to the disputed regions and create security and political chaos to impose control of the Kurds on Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin.”

Kurdistan, according to Aasam, “detains more than 600 IS members who fled battles against security troops.”

The U.S. “seeks returning Islamic State into the disputed regions, with support from Peshmerga to get the country back to square one,” he said, urging the government to “take strict measures against Peshmerga and the coalition to stop the conspiracy against the security of the country.”

On Monday, Kurdistan’s Ministry of Peshmerga declared an agreement with the coalition to revise the military plans of Kirkuk and the disputed regions.

Iraqi government forces approached the southern borders of Erbil, capital of semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, after taking over Kirkuk province from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in October, fulfilling instructions made by the Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to retake areas where sovereignty is disputed with Kurdistan.

Baghdad had declared intentions to retake areas disputed on with Erbil following the Kurdistan Region’s vote for ts independence referendum on September 25, from Iraq, urging Peshmerga to cooperate with federal troops.

The disputed regions has been one of the main conflict issues between Baghdad and Erbil for 14 years. The area of those regions reach around 37 square kilometers.