Iraqi forces close road between Duhok, Mosul

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militia has closed a road connecting the provinces of Duhok and Nineveh days after the path was reopened.

Peshmerga Commander Fahmi Ahmed told Kurdistan 24 on Sunday that Iraqi forces and the Hashd al-Shaabi militia had closed the road between the town of Sheikhan in Duhok Province and Mosul, blocking civilians’ movements between the two regions.

“The road is always open and will remain open from the Peshmerga side,” the Commander said, adding that the Kurdish forces had been facilitating the people’s movement between the two provinces.

According to Ahmed, the road was closed by the Iraqi Army’s 16th Division who are not allowing people to move between the areas.

“We have no issue with the people moving between Sheikhan and Mosul as the road remains open from the Kurdistan Region’s side,” he noted.

“The road is very important for the people as it is the closest road between Duhok and Mosul, and it is in the interest of the people if the road remains open,” the Peshmerga Commander explained.

Following Mosul’s liberation from the Islamic State (IS) last year, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said it planned to reopen the roads linking the two areas.

However, matters were delayed in the wake of the Oct. 16 military takeover of disputed areas by the Iraqi army and Iran-backed militias.

On March 5, officials from Dohuk and Nineveh Governorate announced the reopening of the road connecting the two neighboring provinces after a closure of over three years due to the IS war.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany