ISIS grows exploiting potential Turkish operation in Syria – KRI official
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – An official at the parliament of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) warned on Monday that militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) and their family members in Iraq and Syria, whether in prisons or in camps, may take advantage of a possible Turkish operation in north Syria to revive the extremist group.
Reving Heruri, head of the parliament’s Peshmerga committee, said in an exclusive statement to North Press, “The threat of ISIS is still present, and this can be seen by the repeated attacks it claims in Iraq and Syria.”
The Turkish threats of mounting a military operation in northern Syria “increase this risk as they weaken the SDF, which is preoccupied protecting its areas from [Turkish] attacks,” he said.
The Kurdish MP added that recent US stances on Turkish threats have been “somewhat positive…, but the region needs to get rid of anxiety and fear and this can be done through a transparent international policy,” especially regarding northern Syria.
The head of Peshmerga committee called for increasing coordination between the Peshmerga, Iraqi forces, and the SDF to fight ISIS and end its growing threat to the region.