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Anbar Cities Reel under Mobilization Forces after Liberation from ISIS | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Iraqi civilians gather on July 27, 2016 at a camp for displaced people in the district of Hajaj after fleeing the towns of al-Shirqat and Qayyaya south of the city of Mosul during fighting between Iraqi security forces and ISIS terrorists. (AFP)


Anbar Cities Reel under Mobilization Forces after Liberation from ISIS

by | Aug 18, 2016 | Middle East |

Anbar Cities Reel under Mobilization Forces after Liberation from ISIS

Ramadi, Erbil-The Anbar Provincial Council along with politicians and members of the Iraqi Parliament have condemned the violations committed by members linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in some cities of the province after their liberation from ISIS.

The PMF has attacked, killed and captured thousands of Anbar residents, and has destroyed and started burning hundreds of houses and mosques.

The Anbar Provincial Council called on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to form a committee that would launch an investigation into these violations.

Member of the Iraqi Parliament representing Anbar province Ahmed al-Salamani told Asharq Al-Awsat: “A large number of members linked to the PMF had committed violations and crimes in the areas of Jazirat al-Khalidiyah and al-Hamidiya, east Ramadi, during their operation to liberate the city.”

Salamani said that those criminal members had destroyed and set on fire dozens of houses, schools, mosques, and aquifers.

“Those members also destroyed most houses in the area of Hamidiya, which has been liberated six months ago,” the Iraqi deputy said.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government announced on Wednesday that it would not withdraw from the areas it had controlled in the Nineveh Province, but on the contrary, would continue to advance and liberate the ISIS-controlled areas in the surroundings of Mosul city.

An official statement said Peshmerga forces would not withdraw from the areas it had liberated, describing them as “Kurdish areas.”

Sources told the Iraqi media that the council of Nineveh Province plans to hold a popular referendum on annexing the liberated areas to the Kurdish district.

The development comes 24 hours following comments made by Abadi, who said that Peshmerga forces had to stop in their current positions and not advance further towards the city of Mosul.

The prime minister said: “There is an understanding with Erbil stipulating that Peshmerga forces should not move during the operation to recuperate the city, and should not spread even if their forces were helping the army.”