Pope Francis praised the leadership of Kurdistan for turning the region into a safe haven for refugees and IDPs regardless of their religion or ethnicity. He also commended Kurdistan Region’s battle against extremism and intolerance.

Barzani and Baydemir exchanged views on the latest political developments across the Middle East, as well as the current situation for Kurds in the region.

The attack happened overnight on Tuesday when the men, said to be Kurdish nationals, were gathering at a small shop in Chakhmakha village of Dibis district, northwest of Kirkuk province.

Head of the Directorate of Security in Kifri, Othman Mohammed, told BasNews that they carried out an operation against the jihadists in the region as the group's movements have lately increased.

During the interview, PM Barzani pointed out that the Kurdistan Region has been the safe haven for nearly 1.8 million IDPs and Syrian refugees since 2014, when the IS group attacked Iraq and overran a vast area in the country.