ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi army and Shiite militia forces attacked Kurdish Peshmerga forces on several fronts Thursday morning in “a blatant violation of the constitution”, the region’s security council said in a statement, but all attacks were repelled to the loss of lives and equipment on the Iraqi side.
The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said in a statement at 02:20 pm: “At 0600hrs Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) began an unprovoked, four-pronged assault on Peshmerga positions in North West Mosul; Bardiya and Hamad Agha towards Ain Ouais, Mosharaf towards Sufaya and from Rabia towards Mahmoudiya."
The KRSC said the Iraqi forces were supported by Iranian-backed Hashd groups such as "Kataib Imam Ali, Harakat Al-Najba,Tofuf Brigade, Hussein Brigade,Badr Corp, Al-Abbas Brigade, Kataib Jund Al-Imam and Raad Al-Saree' Division all under command of Hadi Ameri and Abu Mahdi Mohandes."
The KRSC said the Iraqi forces were violating the constitution that prohibits the use of arms in political disputes.
“Frontline reporting confirms Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed PMF continue to use U.S. weapons given to Iraq for the anti-ISIL campaign, including Humvees, Armored Personnel Carriers and Badger infantry vehicles. This is a blatant violation of the Iraqi Constitution which forbids the use of the army to settle political disputes. We condemn Iraq’s military aggression in the strongest terms.”
Video footage released by the Hashd al-Shaabi militia shows the Iraqi forces launching an attack aiming at Fishabur border crossing which is deep inside undisputed Kurdish territory. One officer orders his men to burn an area with mortar fire and other rockets.
Abu Turab al-Tamimi, a commander of the Hashd militia, said that they have made some progress near the Fishabur crossing.
“The operation to impose the law has achieved its objectives in Jarijira, near to Fishabur despite fierce defence by the separatists,” Tamimi was quoted as saying by the Hashd media.
The Hashd media reported Thursday that the Iranian-backed militia have launched an offensive “to reclaim Fishabur.”
The KRSC said that all the attacks were repelled: “As of 1200hrs, Peshmerga heroically repelled today’s attacks, destroying 3 tanks, 5 US Humvees and 1 Badger. Having retreated from the areas, Iraqi forces have resorted to shelling Peshmerga positions. Peshmerga forces will defending their positions against Iraq’s wanton aggression and will continue to protect the region and its peoples.”
The Kurdish Security Council called on the Iraqi government that “These attacks must stop immediately; Iraq must withdraw all forces and return to negotiations to address political differences. The international community must denounce Iraq’s reckless behavior in the last two weeks. It has destabilized some of the country’s safest areas, displaced over 150,000 individuals and created dangerous security vacuums.”
