Barzani and US envoy discuss preparations for Mosul offensive
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish President Masoud Barzani and Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the coalition fighting ISIS, discussed preparations for an anticipated battle for the liberation of Iraq’s second-largest city Mosul from the Islamic State.
"They discussed preparations for the recapturing of Mosul from ISIS by the Iraqi army, the Peshmerga forces and the international coalition," according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
McGurk also tweeted after his Friday meeting in Erbil that details of the offensive – whose timeframe has not been announced -- were discussed.
“Detailed talks in Erbil with President Barzani on momentum against ISIS and US support to Peshmerga,” the envoy said in his twitter message.
Barzani has pledged that the Peshmerga would play a “significant” role in the Mosul battle, but also has emphasized there must be agreement before the fighting on how the city – which has a large Kurdish population -- would be administered after liberation.
The presidential statement said that both parties also stressed "the need for a prior political agreement between the KRG and Baghdad on the running of Mosul after its liberation."
McGurk also updated Barzani on US moves to boost military supplies for the Peshmerga in their fight against ISIS.
The two discussed recent clashes between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), warning of "the dangers of the escalation of violence between Turkey and the PKK," the statement said.
"They discussed preparations for the recapturing of Mosul from ISIS by the Iraqi army, the Peshmerga forces and the international coalition," according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
McGurk also tweeted after his Friday meeting in Erbil that details of the offensive – whose timeframe has not been announced -- were discussed.
“Detailed talks in Erbil with President Barzani on momentum against ISIS and US support to Peshmerga,” the envoy said in his twitter message.
Barzani has pledged that the Peshmerga would play a “significant” role in the Mosul battle, but also has emphasized there must be agreement before the fighting on how the city – which has a large Kurdish population -- would be administered after liberation.
The presidential statement said that both parties also stressed "the need for a prior political agreement between the KRG and Baghdad on the running of Mosul after its liberation."
McGurk also updated Barzani on US moves to boost military supplies for the Peshmerga in their fight against ISIS.
The two discussed recent clashes between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), warning of "the dangers of the escalation of violence between Turkey and the PKK," the statement said.