Kurdistan Regional Government asks US to support Peshmerga against ISIL terrorists

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Kurdistan Regional Government Kurdistan Regional Government has officially asked the United States for armed assistance as it steps up the fight against terrorists of the ISIL who have declared their own state in conquered territories in Iraq and Syria.

Falah Mustafa, head of foreign relations, said in a press statement that the US missions in Baghdad and Erbil had taken the Kurdish appeal “seriously” and “promised to intently look into the case.”

“We told the US representatives that the time for action has come and that the US should change its Kurdish policy from showing gratitude to showing us direct support,” Mustafa added.

His comments came as the Kurdish Peshmirga forces, that have been a bulwark against the IS advancing into Iraq’s Kurdish-populated areas, reported receiving advanced heavy weapons and said they were ready to go on the offensive against the terrorists.

In Washington, the State Department said the US had joint operations centers in Erbil and Baghdad which were helping the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Kurdish Peshmirga commanders by sharing intelligence information.

ISIL terrorists launched a massive attack on Kurdish-controlled areas on Sunday morning, capturing the important oil cities of Shengal and Zumar, 50 kilometers from the Syrian-Kurdish border. Heavy losses were reported on both sides.

Kurdish military officials say the Peshmirga fighters will urgently need heavy weaponry and ammunition in order to go ahead with an offensive against the ISIL terrorists.

“We told the Americans that this is a war against terror and we could not possibly go to this war all alone,” Mustafa said.

“Christians and the Yazidis must be protected. We do not wish to face this war alone. The international community must act and the US should take its responsibility. We need advanced weapons and ammunition to fight the terrorists,” he added. /End/