Iraqi President says ‘fearful’ Afrin operation will be repeated in Shingal

Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Wednesday said his country is “fearful” that an operation similar to the one in Afrin would be repeated in Shingal.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Wednesday said his country is “fearful” that an operation similar to the one in Syrian Kurdistan’s Afrin region would be repeated in northern Iraq’s Sinjar (Shingal).

In recent weeks, Turkey had threatened to launch an offensive against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who were present in Shingal to defeat the Islamic State (IS) when the militant group overran the region, committing genocide against the Kurdish Yezidi (Ezidi) population.

The Iraqi President addressed the recent withdrawal of PKK fighters and called on Ankara to end its threat of an invasion.

“After the withdrawal of the PKK, foreign forces cannot come and invade a part of Iraq,” Masum said in remarks carried by the UK-based El Hayat newspaper, adding he was “fearful of an Afrin operation being repeated in Shingal.”

The Iraqi President called on Turkey to respect “agreements between Baghdad and Ankara to defuse such tensions.”

He also called on Turkish forces who are stationed in the Bashiqa region supporting Iraqi troops battling IS to leave after the defeat of the extremist group.

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters are photographed leaving the Shingal region. (Photo: Archive)
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters are photographed leaving the Shingal region. (Photo: Archive)

Following the climax of its campaign against the US-armed Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, Turkey vowed to continue its advance east of the Kurdish-held enclave into Manbij, where US forces are present, and even Shingal in Iraq.

Turkey considers the YPG an extension of the PKK and thus labels them “terrorists.” Ankara has also been infuriated with the US for its support of the Kurdish forces who have been pivotal in the defeat of IS in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the central government in Baghdad that if they do not address the PKK presence in Shingal, his army would advance and take care of the matter themselves.

Erdogan’s warnings prompted deployment of Iraqi security forces to the Ezidi-populated region.