MESOP : FOREIGN FIGHTERS ? JEN PSAKI (US STATE DEPARTEMEND) SAYS “YES” / PESHMERGA SPEAKER SAYS “NO” WHILE PYD/PKK LOOKING FOR MORE ADVENTURERS

Foreigner fighters cannot join Peshmerga: spokesman

21 Apr 2015 – Kurdpress – The Spokesman of the Peshmerga ministry said foreign soldiers are not accepted inside the ranks of the Kurdish forces that are at war against the militants of the Islamic State (IS). After the IS attacks on Kurds in Iraq and Syria hundreds of vets from western states’ armies have joined Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria. Jabbar Yawar told the Guardian “we do not accept any foreign forces in Peshmerga. We are an army not a militia forces.”

He added law does not allow Peshmerga ministry to allow foreign forces inside the ranks of the Kurdish forces and the foreign fighters in the region have no connection to Peshmerga ministry and the ministry does not take their responsibility.

Meanwhile a U.S. Department of State spokesman, Michael Lavali has stated that his country does not support foreign fighters to join Peshmerga or go to Iraq or Syria to fight against the Islamic State. Former U.S. Department of State Jen Psaki said she is not aware of any legal bans that forbid U.S. citizens to join Kurdish forces. According to Nusican Amude, affiliated with the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), 50 U.S. citizens have already joined the YPG and the number is on rise.Some American citizens are running websites and are encouraging people to go to war in Syria and Iraq.