32 Iraqis escape IS, arrive at Peshmerga line
On Sunday, 32 Iraqis, mostly women and children, fled from the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul and arrived at a Peshmerga front line in Teleskuf, north of Mosul.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Sunday, 32 Iraqis, mostly women and children, fled from the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul and arrived at a Peshmerga front line in Teleskuf, north of Mosul.
As the Iraqi security forces prepare for the Mosul offensive against IS insurgents, more civilians are leaving the city and fleeing to Kurdish Peshmerga front lines.
Mosul is the second-largest city in Iraq that has been under the control of IS since June 2014.
The jihadists have imposed very strict laws on the people of the city, including dress codes, banning smoking, and watching sports among many other restrictions.
Those who fled mentioned that life under IS was very challenging, adding that the situation in Mosul is terrible.
“People are suffering in Mosul. If possible, almost all the people will leave the city and move to the Kurdistan Region,” one of the escaped men told Kurdistan24.
“Peshmerga gave us everything,” the man continued. “They helped rescue us, gave us food and water. They treated us as if we were their relatives.”
One of the escaped women, who held her young daughter in her hands, expressed her gratitude to Peshmerga forces.
“Thanks to Peshmerga for providing almost everything, including food, drinks and shelter,” she told Kurdistan24.
Kurdistan is home to 1.8 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Most of them escaped the threat of IS from other parts of Iraq.
Additionally, Brigadier General Emad Babiri, a Peshmerga Commander on the Teleskuf front line, told Kurdistan24 that the 32 people approached the front, waving a white piece of cloth from afar.
“We noticed that all of them were civilians and families. We helped rescue them and gave them water, food, and shelter,” Babiri stated.
Col. Saib Zebari, another Peshmerga commander in the area, said that the Kurdish forces perform two roles on the front lines.
“Peshmerga have two duties. First, they fight IS. Second, they help rescue civilians and give them water and food,” he concluded.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
(Masoud Mohamad contributed in this report)