Kurdistan Region President warns of escalating 'terrorist attacks' in Iraq, because of 'security vacuum'
President Barzani issued a statement expressing his concern about the multiple terrorist assaults in territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, saying, “The rising number of recent terror attacks have destabilized these areas and undermined peace for all of the religious and ethnic communities there.”
“These communities have continuously faced the threats of death, abductions, and evictions from their own homes,” his statement continued, as it also pointed out yet another form of terrorist activity: recently, and repeatedly, farms and crops have been burned in arson attacks.
“We have frequently warned of the seriousness of the situation in these areas, we reiterate that the continuation of current circumstances will threaten the stability and peaceful coexistence in these areas,” Barzani stated, as he called for much-needed coordination and cooperation between the KRG and the federal government to protect communities in those areas.
Barzani also stressed that “cooperation between the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces and the continued support of the international coalition against ISIS are necessary since the terror groups have taken advantage of the security vacuum in these areas to launch more attacks.” He underscored that the Kurdistan Region Presidency will continue to make serious efforts in this regard.
On late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, suspected fighters of the so-called Islamic State struck the village of Dara in Iraq's disputed Khanaqin district, killing seven individuals, in what was yet another assault targeting the country's Kakai community.
Barzani referred to the attack on the Kurdish Kakai religious minority, saying that it “shows the extent of escalation of terror activities and violence in these areas and the necessity of taking quick steps to prevent their repetition.”
Barzani condemned the attack and concluded his statement by extending his condolences to the families of the victims.
“I wish the wounded a speedy recovery. May God grant them comfort and patience,” he said.
Khanaqin is among the territories disputed between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal Iraqi government. Similar incidents have occurred in the disputed Kirkuk province, where many Kakai also live.
As Iraqi security forces and Dara residents responded to the initial fight, four more villagers and one Iraqi officer were killed in a second armed engagement that followed, an informed source explained. Five other people were wounded, raising the total casualties to seven dead and seven wounded.
The repeated assaults are occurring, despite the fact that close to two thousand Iraqi forces are reportedly stationed in the area.
Top Kurdistan Region officials and Peshmerga commanders have issued repeated warnings to both the Iraqi government and the international community that the Islamic State remains active.
The terrorist group is capable of reasserting itself and re-emerging in the disputed territories to continue its campaign of violence, they explain, as they stress the need for joint security cooperation between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Security Forces in order to tackle the threat in the security vacuum, which is becoming more menacing by the day.
