LOC11:45
08:45 GMT
IRBIL, Sept 21 (KUNA) -- Peshmerqa ministry of Kurdistan announced Thursday it will not participate in any military operations to liberate Hwaija governorate in western Kirkuk from the so-called Islamic State (IS).
The peshmerqa will defend its borderlines with Hwaija but will not participate in the liberation process, said secretary general of Peshmerqa mininstry Jabbar Yawer in a short statement.
Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Iraq Haider Al-Abadi announced early Thursday morning the beginning of the first stage of liberating Hwaija.
Peshmerqa troops participate in the war against IS in Mosul and confronted Daesh on a frontline extending to more than 1,100 kilometers with support from coalition forces to conquer IS and stopping it from approaching inside the governorate.
They were able to defeat Daesh and liberate surrounding areas of Mosul in a record time.(end)
sbr.nhq