The meeting of the senior Peshmerga (right) and French military officials, Dec. 23, 2023. (Photo: KRG Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs)
Dec 23,
2023. Posted by Balkan
Periscope - Hellas
Erbil. Kurdistan
Region.
Staff
Lieutenant General Issa Ozer, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Peshmerga, on
Friday received General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, and
his accompanying delegation, according to a statement from the Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.
At the meeting, both sides discussed the coordination between the Ministry of Peshmerga and French Army advisors in the Kurdistan Region in relation to the ongoing fight against ISIS.
The
Peshmerga chief thanked France for its continuous assistance, especially during
the fight against ISIS, sending weapons and military supplies to the Peshmerga
forces and assisting the Kurds with intelligence on the terror group.
Ozer also
appreciated the role of France in working to stabilize the region.
Meanwhile,
Schill expressed his gratitude to the senior officials of the Peshmerga
Ministry for the warm welcome and praised the role of the Peshmerga in the
fight against ISIS, adding that his country will continue to support the
Peshmerga forces.
Erbil and
Paris share close economic, cultural, and political ties. The two capitals are
sister cities.
Staff Lieutenant General Issa Ozer, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Peshmerga (right), and General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, holding award plaque, Dec. 23, 2023. (Photo: KRG Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs)
As an
integral part of the US-led coalition against ISIS, France has provided the
Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces with training as well as air support in the
Kurdish forces’ fight against the terror group between 2014 and 2017.
Earlier in
July, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited the Kurdistan Region
and met with Kurdish leadership, stressing cooperation on the lingering threat
of ISIS.
Kurdistan24
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