The U.S. Secretary of Defense urged Iraq and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to focus on defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) instead of engaging in conflict with each other. James Mattis's remarks come amid escalating tensions between the parties around the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. According to the Associated Press, he stated, "Everyone should focus on defeating ISIS. We should not be pointing guns at each other at this time. We do not want conflict to arise." The U.S. Defense Secretary, speaking to reporters on his return from a three-day trip to Florida, announced that the United States is working to calm the tense relations between the two sides and prepare for a way forward. The Kurdish Peshmerga captured positions in the southwest of Kirkuk but later retreated from these positions. Iraqi army forces have also been deployed around the city of Kirkuk. Tensions between the two sides have intensified since the independence referendum held on September 25, in which over 92% of participants voted in favor of independence for the Kurdistan Region from Iraq. The Peshmerga have controlled the city of Kirkuk since 2014 when Iraqi forces were defeated by ISIS. Baghdad is seeking to regain control of this city, which is outside the influence of the Kurdistan Region. The dispute between the parties flared up again following movements by Iraqi and Peshmerga forces, raising U.S. concerns that the war against ISIS may cool down and that old sectarian violence among Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites could erupt again. The U.S. Defense Secretary stated that no real conflict has occurred between Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga around Kirkuk so far. Mr. Mattis emphasized that U.S. forces accompanying Iraqi and Kurdish units are working to "ensure that no potential conflict will occur." He added, "We are trying to calm the atmosphere and see how we can move forward without taking our eyes off the enemy." According to Mr. Mattis, U.S. leaders are negotiating with both sides to reach a diplomatic compromise. The U.S. Defense Secretary added, "We need to find a way to move forward; the geographical space is not going to change. They are going to have to coexist, no matter how." Mr. Mattis had told reporters late Friday at the Pentagon that the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation. "It is clear that when ISIS is removed from the scene, we do not want another terrorist group or some of the previous conditions or tensions to resurface."
U.S. Defense Secretary Calls for Iraq and Kurds to Avoid Conflict
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis urged Iraq and Kurdish forces to focus on defeating ISIS rather than engaging in conflict amid rising tensions around Kirkuk. The situation escalated following a Kurdish independence referendum, and the U.S. is working to mediate between the parties to prevent further violence.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis called for Iraq and Kurdish forces to prioritize defeating ISIS instead of escalating their conflict over the city of Kirkuk. This comes amid rising tensions following a Kurdish independence referendum.
- Tensions escalated after a Kurdish independence referendum where over 92% voted for independence.
- U.S. forces are present to help prevent conflict between Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Kurdish independence referendum has reignited long-standing disputes between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish region, particularly over resource-rich areas like Kirkuk.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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