Posted on 10/19/2017 9:09:43 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
Hakan Fidan, Undersecretary of Turkey’s secret intelligence MIT, and Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Iranian Qods Forces, took part in the operation of the Iraqi army and the Hashd al-Shaabi forces against Kirkuk, PUK Spokesperson Sadi Ehmed Pire said.
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Spokesperson Sadi Ehmed Pire organized a press conference in Hewler and answered the questions of journalists concerning the operations against Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces on October 16.
The PUK Spokesperson stated that the attacks against Kirkuk were promoted by both Major-General Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Qods Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Hakan Fidan, Undersecretary of Turkish intelligence MIT.
Pire, who stated that the attacks were a consequence of the “referendum”, elaborated as follows: “What has happened, was caused by the referendum. One demand of the Iraqi government was to cancel the results of the referendum, which is difficult to realize and enforce. PUK authorities agreed with Iraqi authorities over Kirkuk. The withdrawal of the Peshmerga was part of that agreement.”
THE HAKAN FIDAN AND QASEM SOLEIMANI CLAIM
Remarking that these happenings are no different than what happened in Makhmur and Shengal, Pire said: “Before 2014, the Iraqi government decided to make use of the oil in its own region. Turkey, Iran and Iraq had an agreement over Kirkuk, with Qasem Soleimani speaking for Iran, Felih Feyaz speaking for Iraq, and Hakan Fidan for Turkey. As part of that agreement, Hakan Fidan took part representing the Turkish intelligence service MIT, and Commander Qasem Soleimani, representing the Qods Forces, in the Kirkuk operation. In fact, the Iraqi Forces are not foreigners. Are the forces currently in Bamerne foreigners, or those currently in Makhmur and Khanaqin? Foreigners on Kurdish land are the Iranian and Turkish forces.”
KIRKUK’S NEW GOVERNOR
PUK Spokesperson Sedi Ehmed Pire remarked that the situation in Shengal, Khanaqin, Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk is calm right now, and added: “There will be no change in the Kurdistan Region administration. Its institutions and status will remain as it is. Only Rizgar Eli, PUK official for Hewler, will be Kirkuk’s new governor.”
All of this over a referendum? (this is about Iranian takeover of Baghdad, helped by Turkey)
Headshake
Now where do we go?
From the article:
“PUK authorities agreed with Iraqi authorities over Kirkuk.”
“Rizgar Eli, PUK official for Hewler, will be Kirkuk’s new governor.”
No doubt that Kurdish internal political competition will be part of this conflict - including trying to tar opponents with the blame (e.g. blaming the KDP referendum). The referendum may have triggered or enabled the Turkish/Iranian agreement, but Iran and Iraq strongly wanted Kirkuk anyhow. Everyone is trying to consolidate gains while they have their militias mobilized, and before the final lines settle out after the war.
ISIS systematically assassinated pro-US Sunnis during their reign. Iran (under the cover of the Iraqi Government) would like to do the same thing in the Kurdish areas to get rid of pro-US Kurds.
I hope that this turnover of Kirkuk was a diplomatic agreement, and not simply our opponents catching us unaware, and seizing strategic assets by force.
I would guess that Turkey’s involvement was mainly agreeing to withhold support from the Kurds, while Iranian surrogates and Baghdad seized Kirkuk, and its oil. It is probably likely that Turkey does not want the Iranians to fully win, but rather just take enough to keep the Kurds from winning their Independence, and force the Iraqi Kurds into Turkey’s arms for protection.
Unless the US supports the Kurds (in a difficult and expensive Berlin airlift mode), only Turkey could supply them in a fight against Iraq/Iran.
This is very fluid.
Since I posted this, there have been some changes that had not transferred down the information channels.
My understanding is 20-24 hours ago, there was another major shift. Peshmerga began to react and forced the PMF out of all disputed areas.
PKK have stayed in Kirkuk the entire time. There were some extreme abuses by the Iranian PMF. They also lost a number of pieces of equipment and crews.
The public and both political elements in KRG have been unified again and I think the immediate crisis is over.
Iran was in control for a while.
From what I read the YPG and YPJ took back Shingal then it was given back to Peshmerga.
Now, a good assessment must take place and Iran and Turkey made to back away from the abyss. Also it must be impressed on Baghdad that this will not happen again.
It was a long night over there last night.
“Peshmerga began to react and forced the PMF out of all disputed areas.”
Wow! Thanks for that update.
Kirkuk (and its oil) is perhaps a dispute that is only going to be settled as a result of a war - if not this one, it would likely require another. Might still.
I wonder if the Gulf Arabs will want to get a hand into this conflict (albeit covertly). They have issues with any Iranian advance.
I believe this one has been walked back from the edge, at least for now.
This Iranian grab has unified the Kurds. It also brought pressure on the old leadership. But the common danger may bring unity that has previously not been possible. This still has huge potential for Kurds.
A day ago, I was very depressed with what had happened. Now it seems like someone jerked the chain of Baghdad and the Quds commander. Good things have happened in the past 24 hours.
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