FILE IMAGE. Source: http://awdnews.com
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, a coalition of Iranian- and Iraqi-backed militias, are now considering new operations to relove “illegal KDP and ISIS” sieges of the Ezidi people in the Iraqi region of Shingal [Sinjar], according to the group’s official account in Twitter.
The PMU is a state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of over 40 militias (mainly Shia Muslim, Sunni Muslim, Christian and Yazidis).
#BREAKING – #Iraqi #PMU will now consider new operations to remove ALL illegal #KDP and #ISIS sieges on the #Ezidi people in #Sinjar pic.twitter.com/OLPdoNAq8K
— Iraqi PMU English (@pmu_english) March 3, 2017
The announcement came amid reports about clashes between Rojava Peshmerga forces [trained by by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by Masoud Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)] and the Shingal Protection Units (YBS) [affilated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)]. At the same time, Barzani and the KDP has strong ties with Turkey and its president Recep Erdogan.
Considering PMU’s links to Iran which is interested in increasing its influence in the area, the announcemen could be easily described as an escalation of cometition between Iran and Turkey in the area.
