Shia militia spreads killed militiamen photos in Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Sunday, Iraqi Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi posted the photos of their militiamen who were killed in the town of Khurmatu in southern Kirkuk Province following the current ceasefire agreement between the militia, Kirkuk Governor and Peshmerga commanders.

Kurdistan24 reporter Hunar Ahmad stated that the photos are being posted in different neighborhoods of the town. The militia has also taken down the flag of Kurdistan in many areas of Khurmatu.

“We have agreed to take down the flags of Kurdistan and Hashd al-Shaabi in Khurmatu. The only permitted flag to be raised in the town is the flag of Iraq,” Abu Raza Najar, a commander of Hashd al-Shaabi in Khurmatu, told Kurdistan24 on Sunday.

On April 24, clashes intensified between the Iraqi Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi and Peshmerga forces in the town of Khurmatu, located in the southern part of Kirkuk Province.

Following the battles, 10 Peshmerga soldiers were killed and wounded while 12 Hashd al-Shaabi militiamen were killed, and over 20 injured.

Khurmatu houses diverse ethnic and religious groups including Kurds, Shia and Sunni Turkmen, and Shia and Sunni Arabs.

Instability arose in the town ever since the militia entered Khurmatu last month.

Reporting by Hunar Ahmad and Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa