Alwaght-Despite the political disputes between Iraqi political parties, a significant threat as ISIS has caused these groups to unite on the idea of fighting this terrorist group until its fall .
Under these circumstances, the media announced that there were discussions between the Iraqi Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani, and Hadi Al-Ameri, the head of Badr Organization (the military wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council), regarding the liberalization of ISIS-occupied areas .
The media sources declared, "The discussions involved the common views regarding the liberalization of the ISIS-occupied areas such as Kirkuk and Salahuddin through coordinating between the Iraqi Mass Mobilization and the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces." Moreover, "In the past, Peshmerga Forces and the Iraqi Mass Mobilization have teamed their efforts in Jalawla and Saadia in Deyala Province." Massoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, announced that the Peshmerga forces brought many victories in Kirkuk Province and they have liberalized more than fifteen thousand kilometers of occupied areas. Hadi Al-Ameri added that the Peshmerga forces along with the Iraqi Mass Mobilization are ready to purge southern and western areas of Kirkuk Province .
After Barazani's visit to Kirkuk, Ribawar Talabani, head of the Kirkuk provincial council said, “So far, no agreement has been signed between the local administration in Kirkuk and head of the Badr Organization Hadi al-Ameri to bring the popular mobilization forces to Kirkuk and launch operations to liberate the areas .”
Talabani announced in a press conference “A general agreement was reached between President Massoud Barzani and Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi in Munich on conducting joint operations to liberate territories from ISIS terrorists, but they did not agree on the areas where joint operations are to take place .”
In the status, the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Mass Mobilization are the two of the most important and influential elements in the political process in Iraq. While the area of Kirkuk is still a dispute between the central government and the Autonomous Kurdistan Region, both groups have reached an understanding of the ISIS' jeopardy. Kirkuk is a region full of oil reserves and is significantly diverse demographically. In this regard, Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Mass Mobilization as an area for cooperation in the liberalization of ISIS-occupied areas chose the area .
In this regard, the spokesperson of the Leadership Council of Democratic Kurdistan Party (DKP), Adnan Kirkuki, told the Lebanese AL-Akhbar newspaper, "The future plan to protect Kirkuk includes reinforcing Peshmerga posts, both logistically and with armory. There is sufficient presence of Peshmerga forces on the confrontation lines. Inside the city, the security services have developed a plan to protect citizens, property, and vital facilities ."
Concerning the liberalization of the areas dominated by ISIS, he said, "Regarding the fighting of ISIS, the coordination between the Autonomous region and the centralized state is possible and is taking place. The Peshmerga forces may take part as supporting forces to liberate the governorate of Kirkuk, as well as Mosul ."
Moreover, the member of Kirkuk Provincal Council, Tahseen Kahiah, mentioned in the interview regarding the coordination among all groups, "Kirkuk is an important, sensitive, and strategic area. It holds key economic facilities, and protecting it during this period is a national and legal duty." He added, "There is high-level coordination between the security forces in the area and the Iraqi Mass Mobilization forces, aimed at developing a plan to liberate the areas controlled by ISIS. This was preceded by mutual visits between the leaders of the Mass Mobilization forces and the local administration, and even with the Peshmerga. The results of these meetings will materialize in the next few days ."
It is noteworthy that southwest of Kirkuk Governorate, the district of Hawija, and the areas of Al-Riyad, Rashad, Al-Abbasiya, and Al-Nahrawan are still under the control of ISIS' militias – since June. Media reports announced that the Iraqi Mass Mobilization forces initiated wide systemic operations in the area of Al-Fatha in Salahuddin Governorate in order to regain Hawija District back, since the past week .
Therefore, when the city of Kirkuk is threatened, it has become a gathering place for Iraq's political opponents. This area is full of natural wealth and demographic diversity that laid the ground for the coordination of all of the Iraqi Parties in the face of the ISIS' militias. While some are on pins and needles to cause disputes in the province, Al-Ameri's visit to meeting with Barazani in Arbil, was an important step in resolving these differences and work towards the creation of united front against the terrorists .
