President of Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani says his forces are ready to strike at militants anywhere including in neighboring Syria in a bid to protect Kurds.We will not hesitate in directing strikes (against) the terrorist criminals in any place, AFP quoted Barzani as saying in an interview.
Our duty is to protect the Kurds if we are able, he added.
In a rare deadly attack, a security service headquarters in the Kurdish region's capital Arbil came under militant attack on September 29, causing seven deaths.
Barzani, however, made a distinction between striking militants and being drawn into civil war in Syria.
Our opinion is that the Kurds must stand at the same distance from all parties involved in the conflict, he said, adding that the Kurdish people are not forced into a war.
Barzani also acknowledged that Iraqi Kurdistan had trained Syrian Kurds to defend their communities.
A number of young (men) were trained, but truly not with the aim of entering the war, he stated.
Kurds in Syria make up 10 percent of the population and are mostly concentrated in the northern part of the country.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Reports indicate that the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.
According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the violence.
By Press TV
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