Shia militias impose themselves wherever they go: Peshmerga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi impose themselves on any area they enter, Peshmerga has enough forces to liberate Hawija from jihadists alone, said a Peshmerga Commander on Sunday.

The Kurdish Peshmerga forces are ready for the upcoming offensive to free Hawija, the last Islamic State (IS)-stronghold in Kirkuk Province, southern Kurdistan Region.

The Sunni tribal fighters and Hashd al-Shaabi have stated they will participate in the liberation of Hawija from IS.

However, there is no agreement among any of those forces, including Peshmerga for the military operation.

Peshmerga in the west of Hawija has the closest front line from the center of the city which is 28 kilometers (17 miles).

The Kurdish forces claim they would liberate and raise the national flag of Kurdistan in the center of the city in the shortest time without the assistance of any other forces.

One of the obstacles for Peshmerga’s operation on Hawija is the Hashd al-Shaabi, according to Col. Shwan Hamagharib, a Peshmerga Commander in western Kirkuk.

“The problem is Hashd al-Shaabi wants to impose themselves on all front lines. They want to attack with Peshmerga from almost all front lines,” Hamagharib told Kurdistan24. “We definitely reject this imposition.”

He mentioned Peshmerga have enough forces to liberate Hawija alone.

“Hashd al-Shaabi has a characteristic of imposing themselves anywhere they enter. They don’t leave the area after its liberation,” Hamagharib said.

The commander added Peshmerga do not want to repeat the case of Tuz Khurmatu, located in southern Kirkuk.

Sunni Arabs of Hawija in Kirkuk have established the operation command room for retaking Hawija, but both Peshmerga and Hashd al-Shaabi refuse to join the operation room.

“We call on creating a Sunni fighter group under the supervision of Kirkuk Security Committee,” the head of Obeidi tribal clan in Iraq Sheikh Anwar Asse said.

“The role of the group will be assisting police in Hawija and carrying the responsibility of the city’s security,” Asse continued.

Locals in the southern Kirkuk front line told Kurdistan24 Hashd al-Shaabi had brought many troops from southern Iraq to the area, preparing for the Hawija operation.

Kurdistan24 tried to talk to one of the militia’s commanders in the area, but they refused to provide details.

“Expect our successes,” Hashd al-Shaabi militants told Kurdistan24.

Hawija was occupied by IS in June 2014 after the insurgents took control of Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany