CTG Rejects Allegations in Video and Raises Concerns Over Smear Tactics

PUKMEDIA

CTG's logo.

The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) has issued a statement rejecting what it described as fabricated allegations contained in a video circulated by a network of media outlets allegedly operating under the influence of Masrour Barzani, the Second Deputy President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

"A network of media outlets operating under the direct influence of the Second Deputy of the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has released a video in a calculated attempt to implicate the Counter-Terrorism Group and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in fabricated allegations," the CTG said in a statement.

The statement said the footage showed military cargo vehicles purportedly transporting weapons allegedly supplied by the United States to the Iranian opposition, which were then claimed to have been intercepted by the CTG.

However, the CTG asserted that even a basic understanding of military equipment would identify the munitions visible in the footage as Russian-manufactured Grad rockets rather than American weaponry.

"Even a rudimentary understanding of military hardware is sufficient to identify the munitions visible in those vehicles as Russian-manufactured Grad rockets — not American ordnance," the CTG said.

It further noted that, even if such weapons had been of U.S. origin, their presence within CTG stocks would not be unusual, given that the organisation has long been an officially recognised partner of the United States in counter-terrorism operations.

"Moreover, even in the hypothetical scenario that such weapons were of American origin, their presence within the Counter-Terrorism Group's inventory would be entirely unremarkable, given that the CTG is a longstanding and formally recognised partner of the United States in its counter-terrorism operations," the CTG said.

The statement also said that no equipment leaves the region without the responsibility of Masrour Barzani, who is also the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

"The recycling of unfounded narratives and deliberate disinformation — now an established fixture of Masrour's political playbook and that of his associates — will not succeed in deflecting public attention from the deepening scandal surrounding his brothers, who are presently the subject of an active investigation by the United States Department of Justice," the CTG said.

It referred to reports of an ongoing investigation by the United States Department of Justice concerning fraud, corruption and bribery allegations linked to the U.S. military, as well as the freezing of millions of dollars in assets.



PUKMEDIA