Kirkuk governor: Iraq delays Hawija military operation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kirkuk governor announced Peshmerga forces' readiness to liberate the Islamic State (IS)-held city of Hawija, west of Kirkuk.

Najmaddin Karim, governor of Kirkuk, stated that the Peshmerga forces and Hashd al-Shaabi forces are preparing to execute the plan to liberate south and western areas of Kirkuk province.

He blamed the Iraqi government for delaying the military operation.

“Peshmerga forces and Hashd al-Shaabi are almost ready to liberate the rest of the IS-controlled areas but the Iraqi government should stop delaying the military operation to retake Hawija and its surrounding areas,” Karim told an Iraqi media.

The governor explained that if the areas in south and west of the city remain under IS control for much longer, the sufferings of civilians will reach a tragic level and it will be an imminent threat to the areas under the control of Peshmerga forces.

Karim added that “So far Kirkuk has welcomed and provided shelter to 26,000 families from Hawija and surrounding areas and the displacement is ongoing.”

Previously, Captain Ako, a Peshmerga Commander on the western Kirkuk front line, told Kurdistan24 that the Peshmerga forces are ready for the upcoming offensive to liberate Hawija, the last IS-stronghold in Kirkuk Province.

Peshmerga forces, the main fighting forces participating in the Hawija operation, are only 28 kilometers away from the center of the IS-held city in western Kirkuk.

In October, the Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi requested to deploy the Iraqi army in the Peshmerga-controlled areas around Kirkuk to participate in the Hawija operation, but the request was rejected by Kirkuk governor.

Editing by Ava Homa