In a significant development, top commanders from the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military have agreed to intensify joint operations against the remaining pockets of ISIS militants in the disputed areas. The joint efforts will be supported by the Iraqi air force.

A high-level Iraqi military delegation, comprising commanders from the Joint Operations Command, arrived in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, on Tuesday. They held a meeting with Kurdish Peshmerga commanders, in the presence of members from the US-led coalition forces.

The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss collaborative operations against the remnants of the so-called Islamic State, whose self-proclaimed caliphate was dismantled by the joint efforts of Iraqi and Kurdish forces, with air support from the international coalition.

Although ISIS has lost control of 40 percent of the territory it once held, the group remains capable of launching sporadic attacks against civilians and security forces. The Coalition and the country's security assessments have highlighted the need for continued efforts to combat the low-level insurgency.

During the meeting, the officials agreed to enhance cooperation across all levels, including coordination between junior units of both forces. Mardan Chawshin, the Kurdish commander of the Hamrin-Qaratapa front in Diyala province, emphasized the commitment to deepening cooperation between the Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

Saleh Hadhar, the commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Iraqi army, confirmed that the Iraqi air force would provide ground support to the joint operations. The air force routinely conducts airstrikes against suspected ISIS positions in the northern and western parts of the country.

To address the escalating hit-and-run attacks by ISIS, the governments of Erbil and Baghdad had previously agreed to establish two joint brigades. These brigades were specifically intended to address security concerns in the areas referred to as "security vacuums" between the Kurdish and Iraqi forces.

Since the offensive launched by Iranian-backed militia forces and Iraqi troops in October 2017, which resulted in the expulsion of Kurdish Peshmerga forces from disputed territories, the security vacuum in those areas has expanded. The agreement to increase joint operations aims to fill this security void and ensure stability in the region.

The intensified cooperation between the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Iraqi military, with the backing of the international coalition and the support of the Iraqi air force, signifies a strong commitment to eradicating the remnants of ISIS in the disputed areas. The joint efforts will contribute to enhancing security and stability and demonstrate the ongoing commitment to defeating terrorism in the region.