Maxmur-Kirkuk front Guerrilla Command reacted strongly against the Iraq Türkmen front official and Iraqi MP Erșet Salihi's comments calling the guerrilla "terrorists" and invaders in Kirkuk and warned: "Everybody must know where they stand."

The Guerrilla Command statement said: "There may be some forces that don't want our movement in this area. But we as a movement don't take statements like this seriously. Everybody should know that wherever our people are, we will continue to fulfill our duty of defense. And we don't need anybody's permission for that."

"OUR COMING HERE IS BY THE KURDISH PEOPLE'S REQUEST AND FOR THEIR DEFENSE"

The Command statement mentioned that they moved into the area by the demand of political powers in Southern Kurdistan and the people during the ISIS gang attacks in 2014 and says: "Since then, we have waged an effective struggle against ISIS along with the peshmerga. In any case, our coming to Southern Kurdistan was by the demand of our people and the Southern forces. We have fulfilled our duty of defense against ISIS gangs since that day, and we will continue to do so."

"THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORCES THAT MAKE THE ITF TALK"

The command statement also points out that behind the ITF's (Iraqi Turkmen Front) comments there are other forces at play, and says: "Apparently there are different forces that are making the ITF talk. But it must be known that our movement is a Kurdistani movement. It is responsible for ensuring our people's safety. As the PKK movement, we will continue to fulfill our duty for defense, as we have until now, wherever our people are. But we know that Turkmen Front official and Iraqi MP Erşet Salihi's comments calling the guerrilla 'terrorists' and 'invaders in Kirkuk' are no ordinary comments. We know that there are different forces behind these comments and they are diverting by making this person make such statements. But it must be known that no force has the right to make such statements on the PKK guerrilla, the defending force of our people."

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR PEOPLE"

Maxmur-Kirkuk Guerrilla Command statement underlined that they will continue their defense duty wherever the Kurdish people are, without any doubts about any sacrifice, and concluded with the following: "Our call to our people is to not heed such statements led by different powers. Guerrilla forces have stood with the people against the gang organisation of ISIS in many places in Kurdistan since 2014 and have fulfilled the duty of defense with honor and without hesitation over any sacrifices, and will continue to do so. We also want this to be known by all, we will continue to fight against the enemies of the peoples of Kurdistan to the end, standing in the same trenches as the peshmerga. Some may say they don't want the guerrilla in this area. But this is Kurdistan, and the guerrilla is the legitimate defense force of Kurdistan. We didn't ask anybody's permission to stay here and defend our people against ISIS fascism, and we won't start now. And we would also like this to be known that we don't take the ITF statement or similar statements seriously."