The peshmerga, ‘forward with Italy against ISIS’

(by correspondent Domenico Palesse) (ANSA) – ERBIL, 28 APR – ISIS is eradicated but not yet completely defeated. The international crisis and the instability of the countries of the Middle East risk awakening the sleeping cells, those terrorists ready to strike in the name of the self-proclaimed Caliphate which ten years ago sowed death and terror also in Europe. And the person most of all who is aware of the danger at hand is the Peshmerga army, the military force of Iraqi Kurdistan which has always fought against Islamic terrorism. At his side, in training and military training, are the Italian soldiers of the Prima Parthica mission, stationed in Erbil since 2014, right in the heart of the autonomous Iraqi region. “We have had great support from the Italian army in fighting and defeating ISIS – these are the words of the minister of the peshmerga, Shoresh Ismail, meeting the commander of the mission, Colonel Francesco Serafini -. We hope to be able to become even better friends and continue to work together.” The collaboration of our military was one of the “most important supports we have received”, highlighted the minister. “Italy was among the first to help our people and our army in fighting ISIS – continued Ismail during a meeting with Italian journalists -. An agreement that continues today and which has led to the improvement of professional skills of our soldiers. Without this contribution we would never have been able to reach certain standards.” For this reason, faced with the mooted hypothesis of a withdrawal of the coalition military forces, the Kurdish head of defense expresses his opposition. “If the contingent were to ever leave – he highlights – a gigantic space of great discomfort and many problems would open up”, also linked to the possibility, not even very remote, of the return of Islamic terrorism. “The peshmerga – he continued – support the permanence of the coalition, even with US troops”. What worries the Kurdish government most are some areas of the area, ranging from the south-east of Iraqi Kurdistan to the border with Syria, which is particularly unstable due to the absence of anti-ISIS military troops. “For this reason – the minister underlined – we are creating two joint brigades with Iraqi soldiers and peshmerga who operate in that area of ​​strong instability and where ISIS is preparing to raise its head again”. Added to this, inevitably, is the Middle Eastern crisis and the tension between Iran and Israel. Drones and missiles cross the Iraqi sky, in that exchange of accusations that sees Tehran and Tel Aviv on a war footing. “The hope – underlined the peshmerga minister – is that the situation in the Middle East can be resolved in the shortest possible time. As Kurdish people we have always sought the path to peace, despite having been victims of genocide and atrocious violence. Personally I hope that it has finally been understood that blood solves nothing. Kurdistan has always been a place of peace and life, of coexistence between different peoples and religions. Before 1948, many Israelis also lived here, without any problems.” “The war is a defeat for everyone”, the last words of the minister as he greeted the Italian delegation returning to Camp Singara, in the Erbil base. (HANDLE).