Iraqi Kurdistan agrees with Baghdad on cross-border operations ban

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Iraqi-Kurdistan agrees with the government in Baghdad on the protection of the borders and prohibiting the targeting of any neighboring countries, the head of the Kurdistan region said, noting that the agreement also stipulates that armed factions not be allowed in the region.

"The president of the region, Nechirvan Barzani, discussed during his visit to Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani and the various other political parties the latest security and political developments in the country," the region's presidency announced.

According to the Kurdish statement, Barzani and Al-Sudani stressed the need to "percent any threats or military operations that target neighboring countries through the Iraqi borders and the Kurdistan region, while ensuring the provision of aid and humanitarian assistance to refugees and not allowing armed factions to be present in the region.

Erbil and Baghdad will fully cooperate and coordinate to protect border security and cooperate and coordinate with neighboring countries to take the necessary measures in this regard, the statement added.

Barzani underlined that the doctrine of the region's leadership will remain as it was: "a factor of safety and stability for Iraq and the countries of the region."

He also stressed that he was looking forward to strengthening ties with Iraq on the basis of mutual respect and good neighborliness and common interests.

It is necessary to resort to dialogue and understanding while finding peaceful solutions to solve domestic and external problems facing the regions.

Iran denies reports about land operation

Iranian sources told Al Mayadeen that there is no truth to what was reported by the Financial Times about a threat of a ground operation in northern Iraq by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force Commander, General Qaani, during his visit to Baghdad.

The sources confirmed that General Qaani "did not talk to Iraqi officials regarding the matter and did not threaten a ground or non-land invasion of northern Iraq."

It is noteworthy that Iran's ambassador to Baghdad, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq, said that "the commander of the Quds Force visited Iraq and met the three presidents," noting that "Iran has agreed with the central government and the authorities of the Kurdistan region to deploy Iraqi forces at the borders of Kurdistan."

Subsequently, the Iraqi government decided to draw up a plan for the redeployment of Iraqi forces along the borders with Iran and Turkey, which it said was "a plan to redeploy the Iraqi border forces to hold the zero line along the borders with the two countries."

According to the Fars news agency, the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad, Al-e Sadeq, confirmed Baghdad's approval of Tehran's request that the central government fully control the borders between the two countries.