Peshmerga Commander: IS activities in Diyala on rise, cause displacement

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdistan Region Peshmerga commander has warned that the Iraqi security forces’ weak defense against Islamic State (IS) extremists have given the group an opportunity to re-emerge.

Osman Hassan, the commander of the Peshmerga forces in the 136th brigade, told Kurdistan 24 on Monday that despite IS’ defeat in many cities, towns, and frontlines, the group has now implemented guerrilla warfare tactics against Iraqi forces in different areas.

“IS movements and activities have noticeably increased,” the Peshmerga commander said, noting that the IS extremists were unable to move freely when the Kurdish forces were in charge of Kurdistani areas outside of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) administration.

“Iraqi forces are weak and cannot seize control over the areas where IS sleeper cells are making movements,” Hassan stated.

IS extremists’ activities in the disputed territories outside of the KRG’s administration have recently increased due to the security vacuum created following the takeover by the Iraqi army and Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias last year.

A Kurdistan 24 correspondent in Diyala, meanwhile, revealed that IS activities in the province had increased, endangering people’s lives in the area.

In the past few days, the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi have launched a military campaign against extremists in villages located within the districts of Gulala, Qaratapa, Jabara, and Sleman Beg in Diyala Province, Amanj Abdulrazaq, Head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Office in Jabara, said.

Abdulrazaq added that due to the Iraqi military operations and IS activities in some areas in Diyala, people have started to leave their homes.

In a separate statement, Head of Diyala Provincial Council Ali al-Daiyni confirmed the displacement and called for an immediate intervention by the government to protect the people.

Since mid-October 2017, several areas of Diyala Province have come under the control of Iraqi forces and Hashd al-Shaabi militias following the attack against Kurdish troops and military takeover of disputed territories.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany