ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- At least 18 hours passed without any reported violation of the signed agreement between Kurds and the Shiite militia, known as Hashd al-Shaabi, aimed at deescalating recent tensions that led to deaths on both sides in Khurmatu, a Rudaw reporter said Thursday. According to Hiwa Hussamadeen, Rudaw’s correspondent in Khurmatu, tensions have eased in the town and it has been decided that the Peshmerga Task Force Black will withdraw and return to Kirkuk. The Kurdish Peshmerga special force, that entered Khurmatu on Sunday with heavy weaponry following clashes between Peshmerga and Shia forces in the town, will leave when Hashd al-Shaabi leaves, under the terms of the agreement. Qadir Hussein, a deputy commander of Task Force Black told Rudaw, “Before, many agreements were made but within 24 hours they would fail.” “This agreement is different and we hope the situation will get better and after the Hashd al-Shaabi withdraws, we will withdraw as well,” Hussein added. On Wednesday, speaking at a press conference, commanders of the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Hashd al-Shaabi announced that they had reached an agreement to bring an end to the recent series of clashes. “We agreed that the safety of the city must be placed in the hands of police and security forces,” said Adnan Hamma Mina, a Peshmerga commander in Khurmatu. The Peshmerga commander also said that those who have been killed in the recent clashes must be considered martyrs by the Iraqi government. Khurmatu is located on the main highway that connects the Kurdistan Region to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
