ANKARA
There has been a significant impact of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters’ recent entry into the Syrian town of Kobani through Turkey, Iraq’s Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim told the Anadolu Agency.
Turkey recently allowed about 160 Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters to pass through Turkey into Kobani where Kurdish armed groups have been waging a fierce battle against the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or the ISIL.
In an exclusive interview late Tuesday, Karim said: "Turkey is a very important country for Iraq and has already helped a lot. The passage of Peshmerga fighters in particular has been very helpful."
He said Turkey could provide further help in humanitarian and military terms.
At least 54 ISIL militants, including five commanders were killed Monday in separate Iraqi army attacks in northern Saladin and Diyala provinces, according to Iraqi security officials.
Ten vehicles belonging to the terror group and 42 explosives planted by militants were also destroyed in the airstrikes.
"Despite these military victories, the situation is still worrisome," Karim said.
He added that most of Iraq was still under control of ISIL, and a lot of people had been displaced due to the ongoing operations of Iraqi security and Peshmerga forces, especially around Mosul.
According to the UN, an estimated 1.8 million citizens have been internally displaced this year throughout Iraq.
"We need financial help so that the military could continue fighting against the ISIL. Operations bring a lot of economic burden," he said.
The governor also noted the significance of U.S. airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria.
"The U.S. intervention has helped balance the situation after ISIL gained power in Iraq and Syria, and in particular Kobani", he said, adding that the recent decision by the U.S. government to send additional 1,500 troops to Iraq would help further.
Karim said the recapture in late October of Zubar town by Iraqi army and Peshmerga forces would not have been possible without the help of U.S. forces, and especially airstrikes.
The town, which is 60 kilometers north of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, was captured by ISIL in June.
"The arrival of additional U.S. army consultants has strengthened our position as well. The Iraqi military has been getting advice from the U.S. forces and this is very helpful," he said.
Since mid-June, fighting in Iraq has been pitting the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces against ISIL militants, who have taken control of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city.
ISIL is currently in control of large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
The U.S. is leading an international coalition, which includes France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, among others, and has carried out numerous airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
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