Official: Shia militias planning to attack Kurdish areas in Kifri, southeast Sulaimani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish official revealed that the Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia plans to attack Peshmerga controlled areas sometime soon.

Dler Jaff, the Mayor of Zinana sub-district in Kifri, said that the Iraqi and Hashd al-Shaabi forces deployed in the area were planning on occupying Zinana and its surrounding areas.

As early as Wednesday, the Hashd al-Shaabi announced it would be sending reinforcements to the beleaguered town of Khurmatu and its neighboring areas in preparation for a military operation against armed groups in the region.

Jaff, speaking to Xendan website, claims to have received information that the Iranian-backed militias and the Iraqi army had deployed nearby and aim to attack Zinana and surrounding areas, which are still under the control of the Peshmerga Forces.

Zinana sub-district is part of Kifri district in the Garmiyan Administration, located in the southeast of Sulaimani province and southern Khurmatu. The area has been under control of the KRG since 1991.

“Government officials and Peshmerga commanders held a meeting on Thursday night on the matter,” Jaff stated, revealing that Peshmerga Forces are on standby and “ready to repel any attacks.”

He also asserted that, in the past two days, Iraqi helicopters had bombed Kurdish villages in the area, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of people.

Kurdistan 24 could not independently confirm these reports.

Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi forces had plans to launch an attack on Thursday morning but refrained for two reasons, Jaff said.

“They knew that Peshmerga Forces and Kurdish residents would resist the attack, and there are disagreements among the Shia militias as some factions are opposed to the assault.”

Editing by Nadia Riva