15 Shabak Kurdish villages taken from ISIS since start of Mosul offensive

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Fifteen Shabak Kurdish villages have been liberated from ISIS since the start of the Mosul offensive six days ago, a leader of the community said Saturday.

 

Mosul Provincial Council Member Ghazwan Dawdi, who represents Shabak Kurds, also told Rudaw that Shabaks make up about half the population of Bartella, which was liberated on Thursday, with the rest of the population being Christian Assyrians.

 

Dawdi said there are 57 Shabak villages in Nineveh province, which are expected to be liberated over the coming days.

 

Iraq’s Shabak Kurds speak a language that is distinct from Arabic and Kurdish.