PUK co-president: Lack of coordination between Erbil and Baghdad has led to ISIS re-emerging

P.U.K 01:24 PM - 2021-05-06
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The Patriotic union of Kurdistan, Lahur Talabani has said there are growing indications that Islamic State is trying to make a comeback after an uptick in attacks in Iraq.

 

“It seems like (Islamic State) have re-organized,” Lahur Talabany told Reuters in an interview.

 

Talabany said Islamic State had never been completely eliminated.

 

He said there are still several thousand Islamic state militants operating in Iraq. Some Western military officials say the number operating between Iraq and Syria could be more than 10,000.

 

Talabany was specially alarmed at the ability of Islamic State to recruit, including through social media. Three weeks ago, 38 Islamic state recruits, all Kurds between the age of 20 and 22, were arrested, he said.

 

“They were about to carry out attacks, they received equipment and bombs and explosives. This was a wakeup call,” Talabany recalled.

 

Talabany’s concerns are shared by Iraqi leaders. President Barham Salih said on Twitter last week that the country “cannot afford to be complacent” in combating Islamic State militants.

 

Territory disputed by both sides remains fertile ground for Islamic State to operate in, Talabany said.

 

“Lack of coordination between Erbil and Baghdad has led to ISIS re-emerging and getting stronger and being more operational and capable,” he said, using an abbreviation for Islamic State.

 

Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neigbouring Syria.

 

At least 19 members of Iraqi and Kurdish security forces have been killed in recent days across the country, according to military statements and security officials, prompting calls from Iraq’s president to remain vigilant to the threat of a resurgent Islamic State.

 

 

 

PUKmedia \ Reuters

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