Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today welcomed Australia’s new Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Langman. The President and the Australian Ambassador reviewed the fight against ISIS, including Australian contribution in air support to peshmerga, political and security developments in the country, and the situation of IDPs and refugees in Kurdistan.

Ambassador Langman paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS, and reiterated his country’s commitment to continue to support the peshmerga forces as part of the international coalition against ISIS.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received, US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart E. Jones, and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, Brett McGurk, and their accompanying delegation.

The two sides discussed the security situation in Iraq in general and Kurdistan Region in particular, and the recent developments in the war against Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS.

The delegation reiterated the US military support to Peshmerga forces, stressing on coordination between the United States, Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and Iraqi Federal Government.

Regarding the Kurdistan Region presidency issue, the US delegation expressed its support for continuation of the talks among the Kurdistan Region political parties, urging the need to put the war against ISIS as the first priority of the Region at this moment. They expressed their hope that Kurdistan Region Political parties will soon reach an agreement.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Stuart Jones, and the United States army in Iraq for their support to the Kurdistan Region. He said, however, for the next phases in the war against ISIS, with the aim to liberating the areas under ISIS control, a comprehensive plan, with coalition forces support, particularly US army’s support, for Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, are needed. 

On the Kurdistan Region presidency issue, Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that the talks among Kurdistan Region political parties are going on seriously to reach a suitable solution in the interest of the people and the stability of the Region. He stressed that Kurdistan Region President, Masoud Barzani and the Peshmerga forces give priority to the war against ISIS.

The talks between KRG and the Iraqi Federal Government on finding an appropriate solution for the outstanding issues, the situation in the Middle East and neighbouring countries were also discussed in the meeting. 

At 0530hrs on September 11, Peshmerga forces launched a large-scale offensive in South of Kirkuk to further weaken ISIL's ability to threaten the Kurdistan Region. By 1315hrs, over 150 square kilometres were reclaimed, including the following villages: Albu Mohammed, Albu Yusif, Smud, Dlati Bchuk, Dlati Gowra, Sab'nisan, Tl Raba', Zenqare and Gm Bus.

During the offensive, Peshmerga forces successfully took control of the strategic Dusera Heights, located South of Daquq, and an additional stretch of the Kirkuk-Baghdad Highway, further limiting ISIL's freedom of movements.

International Coalition warplanes targeted dozens of ISIL positions from early hours of the morning and provided close air support to Peshmerga forces. The offensive, which was launched from two fronts South of Daquq, included approximately 1,500 Peshmerga and resulted in killing at least 40 ISIL terrorists.

One VBIED was destroyed by an International Coalition airstrike.

Counter-IED teams are now clearing the heavily-mined area.

In the last six months more than 530 square kilometres South of Kirkuk have been cleared as a result of four large-scale offensives.

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Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - In a speech at a ceremony held to bury 67 bodies of Yazidi martyrs in the Yezidi holy site of Sheikh Sharafaddin shrine, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, highlighted the suffering of the Yazidis, who, he said, have been oppressed twice for being Kurds and Yazidis at the same time.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed that with sacrifices given by Yazidis and Peshmerga forces, the Kurdistan people will eventually prevail and Sinjar and other Kurdish areas will be liberated from the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS.

He pointed out that, “Sinjar and its environs will be liberated at any price and returned to Kurdistan Region, where security, reconstruction, and coexistence will prevail again in this historical town which has been, since the ancient time, the cradle of religious coexistence.”

“The crimes, perpetrated against Yazidi Kurds are deep pains that we will never forget, but as we have gone through many periods of violent oppression and massacres in the past, this time again we will survive and prevail with dignity,” he added.

He reiterated that the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, continues its efforts to liberate the Yezidi Kurds, who are still held captive by ISIS terrorists. He pointed out that “the government has opened a special office dedicated to this task, which has so far managed to liberate 2058 Yezidi sisters and brothers from the grip of terrorists.” In this regard, he expressed his gratitude to the staff working at this office, who, he said, have achieved a great and honourable task.

Prime Minister Barzani said KRG institutions work to assist the Yazidi victims and displaced, who now live in camps, with the hope that they would be able to return to their hometowns, after their areas are being liberated.

He said that the KRG continues its campaign to obtain international recognition of the crimes committed against the Yezidi Kurds as genocide, through a committee, chaired by the KRG Minister of Martyrs and Anfal affairs.

He expressed his gratitude to the Peshmerga forces that have been able to protect Kurdistan territories, and those who have been able to defend and protect Sheikh Sharafaddin shrine against ISIS threats.

Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that religious tolerance and coexistence among different communities in Kurdistan Region is a great support for the success of the Kurdistan people.

He said that the presence of representatives of various religious communities in this ceremony is a message to the enemies that coexistence will continue in the Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp,org)- President Masoud Barzani met with the United States Secretary of Defense, Mr. Ashton Carter in Erbil today. President Barzani and Secretary Carter began their meeting by assessing the progress made by the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military against the terrorists of the Islamic State. President Barzani expressed his satisfaction on the coordination and cooperation between the United States government and the Kurdistan Region and emphasized on the importance of the continuation of that coordination.

The two also discussed the current state of the Peshmerga forces. Secretary Carter stated that the United States will continue to support the Peshmerga forces as they continue their efforts against the Islamic State terrorists, to which President Barzani reiterated the Kurdistan Region's appreciation for that support. Secretary Carter also stated that the war against the Islamic State is indeed being fought by the Iraqi forces, the Peshmerga forces and the international coalition "on behalf of civilization." 

President Barzani and Secretary Carter discussed other previous, current and future military operations against the Islamic State terrorists. 

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received an Italian delegation headed by the Minister of Defense, Ms. Roberta Piontti. President Barzani and Ms. Pinotti reviewed a number of topics including the latest security and military developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region insofar as the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State is concerned. The two sides also spoke of future operations against the Islamic State and Italy's role in supporting the Peshmerga forces against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

Minister Pinotti stated the Peshmerga forces play a crucial role in the global effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State, and for that, the support for the Peshmerga forces should continue from all coalition members.

President Barzani expressed his appreciation for Italy's support and added that that support will continue to be in the memory of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Ms. Pinotti stated that Italy will continue to support the Peshmerga forces against the brutality of the Islamic State, adding that I.S., as a common enemy poses a threat against the free world in its entirety.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Italian Minister of Defence, Ms. Roberta Pinotti and her accompanying delegation, which included the Italian Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, the Italian army Chief of Staff and a number of diplomats and military officials.

In the meeting, which was also attended by Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, and a number of Kurdistan Regional Government Ministers and officials, Ms. Pinotti reaffirmed her government’s appreciation for the role played by the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Forces in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and in defending and  protecting the  various communities in the Kurdistan Region.

She said that the Kurdistan Region enjoys a high reputation at the global level as its Peshmerga Forces defend civilisation against barbarity.

While she praised the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government for having accommodated and offered assistance to a large number of refugees and displaced persons, who fled ISIS violent repression and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, Ms. Roberta Pinotti expressed her country’s readiness to help this vulnerable population.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Italian people and government for their continuous support, recalling Italian Prime Minister's visit last year, when ISIS began attacking Kurdistan.

The two sides discussed Italy’s military support to the Peshmerga Forces and humanitarian aid to the refugees and IDPs.

Ms. Pinotti and her accompanying delegation arrived Kurdistan Region last night and were received at Erbil International Airport by Mustafa Sayid Qadir, Minister for Peshmerga Affairs, Falah Mustafa, head of the Department of Foreign Relations and Rezan Qadir, KRG representative in Italy.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received a United States congressional delegation, led by Congressman Rob Wittman.

In the meeting, which was also attended by Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Mr. Wittman commended the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Forces for having been able to repulse the attacks of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, as well as their ability and commitment, which he said he observed in the training centres that the delegation has visited.

The issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and Iraq’s Federal Government were discussed in the meeting, highlighting Baghdad’s refusal to honour its agreement with the Region.

The financial burden, which represents the hosting of over 1.7 million refugees and internally displaced people, IDPs, who fled ISIS repression and took refuge in Kurdistan, was also discussed in the meeting.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Kurdistan Region to President Barak Obama, his administration, the congress, the people and the military forces of the United States that have played a significant role in protecting Kurdistan people from the terrorist threats by providing Kurdistan Region with humanitarian and military assistance.

He expressed his hope that this assistance, particularly in the military fields, will continue.

Prime Minister Barzani also urged the delegation to play a role in solving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s Federal Government that could lead Baghdad to honour the agreement, reached last December between the two sides, on oil export and budgetary issues.