MESOP FACING KOBANE : Peshmerga making impact in Kobani: Najmadin Karim

There has been a significant impact of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters’ recent entry into the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani through Turkey, Iraq’s Kirkuk Governor Najmadin Karim told the Anadolu Agency.In an exclusive interview late Tuesday, Karim said: “Turkey is a very important country for Iraq and has already helped a lot. The passage of Peshmerga fighters in particular has been very helpful.”

Turkey allowed 150 Peshmerga forces to go to Kobani to help the Kurdish forces of the People Defense Units (YPG) against the militants of the Islamic State (IS). He said Turkey could provide further help in humanitarian and military terms. At least 54 IS militants, including five commanders were killed Monday in separate Iraqi army attacks in northern Saladin and Diyala provinces, according to Iraqi security officials. Ten vehicles belonging to the terror group and 42 explosives planted by militants were also destroyed in the airstrikes. “Despite these military victories, the situation is still worrisome,” Karim said.

He added that most of Iraq was still under control of IS, and a lot of people had been displaced due to the ongoing operations of Iraqi security and Peshmerga forces, especially around Mosul.”We need financial help so that the military could continue fighting against the IS. Operations bring a lot of economic burden,” he said.The governor also noted the significance of U.S. airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria.

“The U.S. intervention has helped balance the situation after IS gained power in Iraq and Syria, and in particular Kobani”, he said, adding that the recent decision by the U.S. government to send additional 1,500 troops to Iraq would help further.Karim said the recapture in late October of Zubar town by Iraqi army and Peshmerga forces would not have been possible without the help of U.S. forces, and especially airstrikes. “The arrival of additional U.S. army consultants has strengthened our position as well. The Iraqi military has been getting advice from the U.S. forces and this is very helpful,” he said.Since mid-June, fighting in Iraq has been pitting the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces against IS militants, who have taken control of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city. IS is currently in control of large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.