ERBIL - The Islamic State (IS) militant group has been militarily defeated, but other factors behind terrorism should be eliminated as well, otherwise, the extremist ideology could re-emerge in a different shape, Kurdish prominent leader and former president of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, said.

Barzani made the remarks during a meeting with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq's (UNAMI) new envoy, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, in Erbil on Thursday where they shed light on the fight against terrorism and its influence on the security of Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Barzani, who is also the president of the of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), discussed with the UN envoy the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and Barzani's recent visit to the Iraqi capital where Barzani showed his support to the Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi, praising his understanding to the Kurdish question and the rights of the Kurds.

The Kurdish leader further congratulated Hennis-Plasschaert on her new service in Iraq and wished her success in her mission.

Bas News