MOD issues clarification on the howitzers allocated to Peshmerga

Baghdad - INA

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense issued a clarification today, Thursday, regarding the issue of howitzers allocated to the Peshmerga forces.

The ministry said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "In response to what is being circulated in the media and social media regarding the issue of (105) mm howitzers, allocated to the Peshmerga forces, we would like to clarify the following:

1. The contract for the purchase of the cannons was signed during the time of the Minister of Defense, Mr. Irfan Al-Hayali, and was amended during the time of the Minister of Defense, Mr. Juma Anad.
2. The amounts for the cannons were paid before the formation of the current government.
3. The cannons arrived at Um Qasr Port on November 20, 2023.
4. The cannons were not delivered to the Ministry of Peshmerga despite a year having passed since their arrival at Umm Qasr Port. 
5. The cannons were delivered based on a memorandum from the Chief of Staff of the Army to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and after taking all necessary measures.

The ministry confirmed according to the statement that "the Peshmerga forces are a national force whose loyalty to Iraq is not in doubt, and that the issue of the aforementioned cannons occurred more than seven years ago and the cannons were not delivered until after taking the measures specific to this issue.

The ministry called on the media not to be drawn into lies and fabrications issued by non-specialists regarding issues related to the ministry, according to the statement.