Hawija can't be trusted with its security, same as handing back to IS: Peshmerga

KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Most of the people of Hawija city in the west of Kirkuk are either members of or loyal to the Islamic State (IS), a Peshmerga commander said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Kurdistan24, Kamal Kirkuki, a Peshmerga commander responsible for the western front lines of Kirkuk, revealed many villages near Peshmerga front lines help the insurgent group attack Kurdish forces.

“It is very unfortunate that many villagers show us their good will and intentions, but then betray us and help [IS],” Kirkuki said.

“We have experienced this situation many times,” he added. “They cannot be trusted.”

On Tuesday, some IS militants attacked a Peshmerga front line in Dibis town, northwestern Kirkuk, martyring three Peshmerga and Kurdish security members.

The Peshmerga repelled the attack and killed two insurgents while the rest escaped.

“On Oct. 21, 2016, [IS] tried to seize Kirkuk, but the people of Kirkuk and Kurds in particular responded by taking up arms against them,” he explained.

The commander revealed they had recently seized an IS hideout where they discovered 106 CDs containing sensitive information.

“Peshmerga has arrested 21 IS sleeper cells in the area,” Kirkuki informed.

He mentioned that Qutan village located near the Peshmerga front line has 68 houses. “50 of them belonged to IS’ family and relatives, and 27 were the homes of senior IS leaders,” he said.

According to Kirkuki, Peshmerga discovered several underground tunnels built by IS in villages near their front lines including holes in homes for snipers.

He mentioned there is a village four kilometers close to the Peshmerga front where IS prepares suicide bombers and car bombs against Peshmerga.

“When we temporarily transferred the civilians of two villages far from Peshmerga front lines, some international organizations started accusing Peshmerga of violating human rights,” the commander stated.

Hawija is one of IS’ strongholds in Iraq. The city has been under the control of the insurgent group since June 2014.

“Most of the people in Hawija are IS members and supporters,” Kirkuki stated.

“If Iraqi and Peshmerga forces liberate the city and then hand over the security of the area to its people it would mean freeing Hawija from [IS] then giving it back to them,” he emphasized.

In the past, IS has repeatedly attacked Peshmerga front lines in western and southern Kirkuk.

However, the Kurdish forces have prevented all the attacks and remain a significant burden for the militants who aim to cross the defense lines.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany