Speaking to the official website of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Babakar Zebari, a military advisor to Nechirvan Barzani, said parts of the disputed areas between Erbil and Baghdad had turned into ISIS hideouts because no Iraqi or Peshmerga forces were present in the areas and the situation is a serious threat to Iraq because ISIS elements organize in and operate through these areas.
The military adviser to President Barzani added that ISIS is constantly attacking Iraqi forces from these areas, and that villages in the area are being evacuated due to the ISIS threat.
He further called on the Iraqi and the region governments to agree with each other, "because if they do not agree, the situation in these areas will worsen and spread to other parts of Iraq, and ISIS will become stronger in this country."
He also stressed that the Iraqi government has no choice but to reach an agreement with the Kurdistan Region, but it refuses to do so as it fears the region would annex the disputed areas to its territory and implement Article 140 of the country's constitution.
Reporter's code: 50101