KIRKUK, Iraq - Top leadership with Iraqi and U.S. forces from around Kirkuk, Iraq, gathered at the Iraqi Army Training Center in Kirkuk, for a Kirkuk senior working group meeting, Sept. 5.
The bi-weekly meeting was attended by Maj. Gen. Jamal Tahir, Kirkuk Iraqi police chief; IA Brig. Gen. Sameer Abdul Kareen, commander of the 12th Iraqi Army Division; Brig. Gen. Shirko Fatih Shwani, commander of the Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade; Task Force Marne Deputy Commanding General Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Donahue; Col. Larry Swift, commander of 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Armored Division, and leadership of the Kirkuk Stability Transition Teams.
“The purpose of this group of leaders coming together is to ensure all of the ISF leaders are aware of the stability in Kirkuk and to come up with ideas to further improve the security,” said Swift.
During this particular meeting the leaders discussed different ways to unite the Iraqi Security Forces in Kirkuk.
According to Maj. Gen. Jamal, showing a united front raises the confidence of the people in Kirkuk.
“Recently the IA and IP together detained 20 wanted personnel and discovered multiple weapons caches while delivering aid to people of Kirkuk,” he said.
“By conducting this mission together with the IA we were able to prove to the people of Kirkuk we are a very capable force and that we will provide security to the area during the withdrawal of U.S. Forces,” said Maj. Gen. Jamal.
Brigadier General Sameer agreed with his IP partner.
“Since we are working closer with the IP and KRGB the number of attacks in Kirkuk has dropped and the people have more faith in us,” he said.