Peshmerga: ISIS collects royalties and sets up courts in areas witnessing a security vacuum in Iraq

Shafaq News / Peshmerga Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government, Shoresh Ismail, said on Sunday that ISIS has rearranged its ranks in areas that witness a security vacuum, especially the disputed areas between Erbil and Baghdad.

A statement was made by the minister to reporters today from "Koljo" sub-district which witnessed a violent attack from ISIS a few days ago, that resulted in the death of two members of Peshmerga forces.

Ismail said that there is coordination and cooperation between Peshmerga, Asaish forces, police and the citizens, which is a condition to defeat ISIS.

He added that "this coordination and cooperation will be expanded so that the security forces will reach a stage where they can face the risks in this region in the future."

About the coordination between Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces, the minister said, "Unfortunately until now, we have not been able to find this coordination between us and the Iraqi forces, and this has created a golden opportunity for the organization to operate in areas experiencing a security vacuum."

 He pointed out that "the organization has rearranged its ranks in those areas, imposed royalties, restructured the courts and punished people in addition to receiving support from parties, while also being able to provide financial returns to its fighters."

The Minister stressed the need to form a joint coordination committee between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi armed forces to end the vacuum in those areas