Islamic State targets peshmerga in Iraq’s disputed Diyala and Makhmour
A recent string of attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region peshmerga forces have raised concern over how effective long-discussed coordination with the central government is in the country’s flashpoint disputed territories.
BAGHDAD — Peshmerga forces operating in territory disputed between the central government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) have in recent days incurred multiple casualties in a number of attacks attributed to Islamic State (IS) cells.
An alleged IS attack late Dec. 2 on peshmerga forces and civilians in the Qarachogh area of Makhmour left several dead. Peshmerga Gen. Sirwan Barzani told local media late in the evening that his forces had been attacked by IS and were responding to the attack.
On Nov. 30, a peshmerga soldier who had been injured the previous night died in hospital, marking the eighth death the KRI forces had suffered at the hands of IS in the Diyala province since Nov. 27.
Though attempts continue to be made to increase cooperation between the forces answering to Erbil and those to Baghdad, problems remain.
