ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Hamid al-Shatri, head of Iraq’s National Intelligence Service on Sunday, stressing the need for increased coordination between Erbil and Baghdad for bolstering security in the country.
The two sides discussed “the latest developments and general security situation in Iraq and the region, and stressing the significance of coordination between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government to protect security and stability,” read a statement from Prime Minister Barzani’s media office.
Today’s meeting comes two days after the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) criticized Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for failing to credit the Kurdish forces in the announcement of the killing of an Islamic State (ISIS) leader earlier on that day.
In a post on X, Sudani said that senior ISIS leader Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay'i, nicknamed Abu Khadija, was killed in an operation of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, with support and coordination from the Joint Operations Command and the US-led global coalition.
The statement by the Iraqi premier made no mention of the Kurdish forces.
The KRSC said that the Kurdish forces played a key role in the operation as it was carried out based on intelligence obtained by them, and that they continued cooperation with the coalition and Iraqi federal forces later as well.
“Unfortunately, the federal prime minister's statement does not mention the key role of the KRSC,” read a statement from the council, saying that the KRSC has always played an effective role in combating terrorism threats in the area and will continue to do so.
“This neglect does not bode well for the prospects of cooperation between the regional and federal institutions… The federal government should provide a more favorable environment for cooperation and coordination in order to maintain peace and stability throughout Iraq,” the statement added.
Rufay'i held the position of ISIS’ Deputy Caliph and so-called “Wali of Iraq and Syria,” among other top roles.
Peshmerga forces that significantly contributed to shattering the myth of ISIS, have been receiving military support from multiple countries that are members of the US-led global coalition against ISIS.
Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2017, Peshmerga forces have stayed at the frontlines, making sure to establish security in the Kurdistan Region amid any possible comeback of the extremist group.
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