Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani as part of his visit to the Persian Gulf region met with His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia. King Salman and President Barzani discussed the current issues facing the region in particular and te entirety of the world in general in the hands of the terrorists of the Islamic State. 

President Barzani and King Salman also spoke of the bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and they both stated that they would work for even more enhanced relations between the two countries.

President Masoud Barzani and the accompanying delegation to the Persian Gulf region arrived today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While there the President is expected to meet a number of the kingdom's officials.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today announced the liberation of Sinjar by peshmerga forces and thanked the US and other coalition partners for their crucial air support to the operation.

In remarks to a group of journalists following the liberation of symbolic town, the President said, “Today I declare Sinjar liberated. I congratulate the people of Kurdistan, in particular the Yezidis. Sinjar has become a symbol of the oppression of the people of Kurdistan. We have delivered on our pledge to liberate Sinjar.”

The President added that other than the peshmerga forces and coalition air support, no other forces were involved in the operation. He also called on the international community and the Iraqi federal government to help the KRG rebuild Sinjar so that its people can return to their homes. 

Kurdistan President Barzani conveyed his condolences to President Hollande. In a message to the French President, the President said that the people of Kurdistan stand with the French people in solidarity, adding that as victims of terrorism themselves, they send their heartfelt condolences to the French people. 

US Vice President Joe Biden called Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani on Tuesday to congratulate him on the success of Peshmerga forces in recapturing the town of Sinjar form ISIS terrorists last week, and praised the bravery and sacrifices of the peshmerga. Mr. Biden reiterated United States’ commitment to continue to support the peshmerga forces. 

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with United States Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Salahhadin to discuss the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS, and security and political developments in Iraq and in Syria.

Mr. Blinken praised the military successes of the peshmerga forces against ISIS terrorists in recent months, especially the recapture of the town of Sinjar last week. He stated that the United States government would continue to support the peshmerga forces. 

President Barzani said that without air support from the US and other coalition partners, the liberation of Sinjar would not have been possible. He reiterated his thanks to the US and other coalition countries. The President added that the liberation of Sinjar demonstrated that with close cooperation and coordination, ISIS can be defeated. 

The President and the US Deputy Secretary of State also underlined the urgent need to help rebuild Sinjar following its liberation.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a parliamentary delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Conservative Party Member of Parliament Mr. Nadhim Zahawi, During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Zahawi spoke of the operations against the terrorists of the Islamic State by the Peshmerga forces particularly the Sinjar operation which concluded with the defeat of the terrorists. Mr. Zahawi congratulated President Barzani for the Sinjar operation and stated that the British government will continue to support the Kurdistan Region as we collectively strive for the utter annihilation of the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani made reference to the air support from the U.S.-led coalition and reiterated his appreciation for that support. He also stated that the Paris terrorist attacks law week further demonstrated that these terrorists pose a threat to the entirely of humankind.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received an Iraqi ministry of Defense delegation headed by Mr. Khaled al-Obaidi, the Minister of Defense. The meeting was initiated by the Minister offering his congratulations on the Peshmerga forces' victory in the Sinjar operation last week which resulted in the liberation of the twon of Sinjar. The minister sated that the Sinjar operation was indeed a crucial turning point in the collective war against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani and Minister al-Obaidi spoke of the current state of the ongoing and upcoming operations against the terrorists of the Islamic State. They stressed on the importance of solidifying the coordination between the Peshmerga forces and other parts of the Iraqi military system in order to further expedite the liberation of other Iraqi locales which are still in the hands of the terrorists.