MESOP NEWS JUDGEMENT : PUK LEADERS ARE TRAITORS & ENEMIES OF KURDISH PEOPLE

Peshmerga General Command accuses PUK officials of betrayal amid Kirkuk crisis

Nrttv – 17 Oct 2017 – KIRKUK – The General Command of Kurdish Peshmerga Forces issued a statement on Monday (October 16), accusing some Peshmerga officials loyal to Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of involvement in “a conspiracy” with the central government against the Kurdish people in Kirkuk.

They allege; “sadly, some PUK officials were supportive of the conspiracy against the Kurdistan nation [in Kirkuk], they intended big and historical betrayal against Kurdistan and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Kurdistan under the flag of PUK,” the statement said. The statement by Peshmerga General Command came after central government forces began a “major operation” to take control of military bases and oil fields which Kurdish Peshmerga fighters took in 2014 during the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group. The Peshmerga General Command said the attack on Kirkuk in the aftermath of Kurdistan independence referendum is “revenge” against ambition of Kurdish people who asked for freedom.

“Those [PUK] officials, have emptied some sensitive areas without fighting against Hashid forces [Shia paramilitary forces] and Iranian revolutionary guards,” the statement read.

PUK leaders dispute claims that Peshmerga forces were not loyal to Kurdistan. A high level Peshmerga commander, Wasta Rasool, states that PUK affiliated fighters were engaged in an intense clash for 4 hours, early on Monday, against heavily armed Iraqi forces.  Peshmerga General Command also said that Shia and Iraqi forces alongside the Iranian Quds-backed force have launched the attack on Kirkuk using weapons and Abrams tanks provided by the US for the fight against Islamic State (ISIS).  http://www.nrttv.com/En/Details.aspx?Jimare=17018

(NRT)