Peshmerga official: We will not withdraw from areas we liberated in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) The Chief of Staff of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Lieutenant General Jamal Mohamed, announced on Thursday, that the Peshmerga forces will not withdraw from the areas that they liberated from the Islamic State, before the start of the battle to liberate Mosul.

Mohamed said in a press statement, “Peshmerga forces will not withdraw from the areas that they liberated before October 10, 2016 (the start of the battle to liberate the city of Mosul).”

“Peshmerga sacrificed nearly 2000 martyrs and 12 thousand casualties in the war against the Islamic State. The withdrawal of Peshmerga from these areas is not negotiable,” Mohamed added.

Mohamed also pointed out to the importance of preparing new agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, after liberating Mosul, on the situation of the city that includes more than 300 thousand Kurdish persons.