Reber Ahmed: Baghdad cannot protect us, and we are in contact with them to supply us with air defense systems.
Reber Ahmed: Baghdad cannot protect us, and we are in contact with them to supply us with air defense systems.
2026-08-11
Shafaq News – Erbil
On Tuesday, the Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Reber Ahmed, confirmed that the disputes related to the implementation of the ASYCUDA system at border crossings had been resolved, while noting that the region was in contact with the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff regarding obtaining air defense systems to protect fields and facilities.
Ahmed said, during a speech he delivered at an exhibition held by the Zeravani forces command about the Anfal of the Barzani people, which was attended by Shafaq News Agency, that the Asikoda file was discussed extensively, and that the head of the regional government followed up on the matter personally, indicating that the two sides agreed a few days ago to send the file to the Federal Council of Ministers.
He explained that the only point that was under discussion was related to the distribution of revenues from border crossings, stressing the need for the distribution to be equal between the two sides in accordance with the law, noting that this file has been settled and there are no longer any problems preventing the implementation of the ASYCUDA system.
He added that implementing the system “is in the interest of both the federal government and the regional government.”
Regarding compensation for those affected by the attacks on the Kurdistan Region, Ahmed said that the region had prepared a detailed report, and that the relevant authorities had recorded all the damages and submitted them to the federal government, stressing: “We have not seen any practical steps so far.”
Regarding air defense systems, the Interior Minister explained that the regional government is in contact with the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff on this matter, indicating that the federal government has promised to approve the region’s acquisition of these systems.
He pointed out that the federal government “cannot protect us,” stressing that there was a promise of cooperation on this issue, in addition to the formation of a joint operations room to manage air defense systems.
Ahmed also touched on the Anfal campaign, saying that “Anfal has become proof that this wound is coexistence,” stressing that this incident “will remain in the conscience of our people forever.”
shafaq.com
