Iraqi government warns Kurdish Peshmerga not to enter Mosul, Barzani promises supportive role
ARA News August 1, 2016
ERBIL – The President of Iraqi Kurdistan region Masoud Barzani met a US delegation headed by General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and discussed the battle for Mosul, where Kurdish Peshmerga forces and allied Iraqi troops are fighting the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS).
According to Hemin Hawrami, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)’s foreign relations chief, the US delegation shared details about the Mosul operations, and Barzani expressed his view for the necessity of a political agreement before the operation to begin.
The Kurdish president also praised the relations between the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the US-led coalition.
“US delegation thanked and appreciated President Barzani’s leadership in the fight against ISIS and the great achievements thus far,” Hawrami said.
President Barzani also held talks with Arab tribal leader on Sunday and discussed the future of Mosul–which has been held by ISIS since summer of 2014.
The Kurdish president said that Mosul operations without the Peshmerga forces are impossible.
“They will have supportive role but will not enter the city,” Barzani said.
The Iraqi Defence Minister Khalid Obeidi said last week that the Iraqi government will not allow the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to liberate the city of Mosul.
Moreover, the Shia Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) threatened the Iraqi Kurds and warned the Peshmerga forces not to enter Mosul.
Reporting by: Wladimir van Wilgenburg
Source: ARA News
http://aranews.net/2016/08/iraqi-government-warns-kurdish-peshmerga-not-enter-mosul-barzani-promises-supportive-role/?************
So was it actually Dunford that gave this order?