'Kurdish Stalin' declares readiness to defend against Iraqi army

The armed units of the Kurdistan Freedom Party garrisoned in Kirkuk are ready to defend the city if the Iraqi army appears, - commander Hüseyin Yazdanpana told Sputnik.

Mr. Hüseyin Yazdanpana declared his readiness to defend himself against the Iraqi army.

He said the militia groups disagreed with the Iraqi parliament's decision to send troops into Kirkuk. "If the Iraqi army enters Kirkuk, we will resist," he said.

Mr Yazdanpana, nicknamed the “Kurdish Stalin” because of his resemblance to the Soviet leader, noted that Kirkuk had been repeatedly attacked by IS, but had been repelled with heavy losses.

He noted that Iraqi authorities have a tradition of treating Kurds poorly, restricting their rights.

"The Kurds do not want war, they want peace and good relations with neighboring countries," - Yazdanpana affirmed.

On September 27, the Iraqi Prime Minister received approval from the Parliament to send troops to the disputed oil area in Kirkuk province, which has been controlled by the Kurds for three years.