PKK armed wing in Shingal: Baghdad recognizes us

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Following the liberation of Shingal from the Islamic State (IS) by the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces, some new armed groups entered the city.

According to a Kurdistan24 reporter, the people of Shingal are complaining about the deployment of these forces in their city. Locals say instead of helping the city, the groups mainly "show off muscle."

Currently, several armed groups are present inside Shingal: Peshmega forces who played the main role in liberating Shingal, Shingal Protection Forces (known as YBS) an armed group affiliated with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and Ezidixan forces.

Qasim Shasho, commander of Shingal forces told Kurdistan24 that there is no coordination between Peshmerga forces, and armed groups affiliated with PKK, although we sometimes meet with their commanders but no official coordination exists.

YBS armed group, PKK’s military wing in Shingal, have been asked several times by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Peshmerga forces to abandon the government buildings and retreat their forces from the city center.

However, they claim that they are an official force in Shingal and have been recognized by the Iraqi government.

Mazlum Shingali, a PKK commander in Shingal told Kurdistan24, “It’s been two years that we are in the area, and it has been a year that the Iraqi government has recognized us as an official military force in town.”

The US has also recognized their forces in the city, he added.

Babe Saadun, the spokesperson of Ezdikhan forces, another armed group led by Haider Shasho close to the Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi, say that Peshmerga forces and PKK-affiliated armed group should leave Shingal.

Saadun said that those who defend Shingal and fight to protect its people are our brothers. “We are thankful to anyone who provides support to our forces,” he added.

Shingal was occupied by IS on August 2014. Following the occupation, IS carried out mass executions and sold Ezidi women as war slaves.

On Nov. 13, 2015, Peshmerga forces with the aerial support of the international coalition jets liberated Shingal and pushed out IS from the city.

Editing by Ava Homa
(Masoud Mohammed from Shingal contributed to this report)