Two ISIS militants surrender to Peshmerga, defections growing

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two Islamic State (ISIS) militants surrendered to Peshmerga forces near Gwer late Friday, said Sirwan Barzani, commander of the front some 50 miles south of Erbil.

"Last night, at around 10pm, two ISIS militants surrendered to the Peshmerga in the village of Sultan Abdulla," said Barzani.

To make sure those who surrender are not disguised suicide bombers, Barzani told Rudaw, the Peshmerga ask the ISIS militants to get undressed and leave clothes and possessions behind.

"They know if they stay with the group their lives would be at stake or they may be killed on day in assaults," Barzani said of the growing number of ISIS defections.

Four other ISIS militants surrendered to the Kurdish forces near Gwer earlier this month.

“We fled for two reasons, fearing death and starvation,” One of the four ISIS militants told Rudaw. “There is no trust within the organization [ISIS], if they suspect a militant they will kill him right away."

With several militants handing themselves over to the Peshmerga on the Kirkuk front the beginning of October the number of ISIS defectors this month adds up to 15.

"At around 5:30 am on Sunday, three ISIS militants who were Kurdish nationals arrived at a Peshmerga front line in Kirkuk to surrender," Brigadier General Kakamand Kak Rash, commander of the Peshmerga's Emergency and Defense Forces in Kirkuk, told Rudaw.