Coalition carried out airstrikes against ISIS in Kirkuk: Kurdish official
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US-led coalition supported Kurdish forces with airstrikes and “personnel” on the ground during the ISIS attack in Kirkuk the previous day, the head of a Kurdish intelligence agency revealed on Saturday.
“[We] are extremely grateful for the involvement of all forces, especially the coalition who assisted us with airstrikes and personnel on the ground in Kirkuk yesterday,” said Lahur Talabani, who is director of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Zanyari and Parastin Intelligence Agency and Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG).
On Friday, ISIS launched simultaneous attacks in multiple locations in and around Kirkuk in northern Iraq, which continued to Saturday morning, killing tens of people, many of them from the security forces.
Talabani’s revelation comes just a day after there were conflicting reports over the involvement of the coalition airstrikes in support of the local forces, in particular an airstrike which reportedly targeted a funeral outside Kirkuk.
Following the reports, the Public Affairs Office of CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve told Rudaw the following:
“At this time, we cannot associate this with any Coalition strikes in the area. The Coalition adheres to targeting processes and procedures aimed to minimize risks to non-combatants. Extraordinary efforts are made by the Coalition to identify and strike appropriate targets in order to avoid non-combatant casualties. We take all reports of non-combatant casualties seriously and assess all incidents as thoroughly as possible.”
“[We] are extremely grateful for the involvement of all forces, especially the coalition who assisted us with airstrikes and personnel on the ground in Kirkuk yesterday,” said Lahur Talabani, who is director of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Zanyari and Parastin Intelligence Agency and Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG).
On Friday, ISIS launched simultaneous attacks in multiple locations in and around Kirkuk in northern Iraq, which continued to Saturday morning, killing tens of people, many of them from the security forces.
Talabani’s revelation comes just a day after there were conflicting reports over the involvement of the coalition airstrikes in support of the local forces, in particular an airstrike which reportedly targeted a funeral outside Kirkuk.
Following the reports, the Public Affairs Office of CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve told Rudaw the following:
“At this time, we cannot associate this with any Coalition strikes in the area. The Coalition adheres to targeting processes and procedures aimed to minimize risks to non-combatants. Extraordinary efforts are made by the Coalition to identify and strike appropriate targets in order to avoid non-combatant casualties. We take all reports of non-combatant casualties seriously and assess all incidents as thoroughly as possible.”
Extremely grateful for involvement of all forces esp #coalition who assisted us w air strikes&personnel on the ground in #Kirkuk yesterday.
— Lahur Talabany (@lahurtalabany) October 22, 2016