Iraqi troops and Kurdish Peshmerga on Sunday signed a deal regarding the military operation to retake the city of Hawija, which will be supported by the US-led coalition.
According to one of the conditions in the agreement, Peshmerga forces will not withdraw from areas they currently control. The Peshmerga have also agreed to open the road to Iraqi troops in the south of Kirkuk, allowing them to mobilize on Hawija which has been occupied by the Islamic State (IS) since the mid-2014. Thirdly, Peshmerga forces will open a civilian corridor for the anticipated influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing the conflict as Iraqi troops advance. The agreement also notes that Peshmerga forces will provide logistical reinforcement and assistance to Iraqi forces. The primary role of the Peshmerga forces in the battle will be to target IS bases with artillery support.
