Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region — A Kurdish tribe in the Hamrin region south of Kirkuk has been holding off the Islamic State (IS) for six months without any support from Peshmerga, the tribe's chief said, but is at risk of losing the territory to extremists.
When IS arrived in the Hamrin region, which extends through multiple provinces and lies near the border of the Kurdistan Region, Sheikh Abdulsamad Salar and his tribe had few options. The tribal leader had to decide whether to flee to the Peshmarga controlled areas, join IS or form a militia from his young tribesmen to fend off IS fighters trying to enter their villages.
Salar chose the latter. "It was not easy to defend the area with a few young men with light weapons, but surrendering to IS wasn’t an option for us," Salar told Rudaw.
The Kurdish Sheikh claims his tribesmen "have killed 55 IS fighters since the arrival of the fighters in the region. The Arab tribal leaders support IS. I have only 400 armed men. I have been able to protect four Kurdish villages in the Hamrin so far, but if we are to continue this fight, we will need Peshmarga support."
It’s unlikely that Peshmerga will enter the area that Salar’s tribal fighters are protecting any time soon. It is near the Jalawla and Saadiya frontlines, which the Peshmarga troops withdrew from after losing battles to IS last month.
IS has blown up at least 60 houses of Kurds in the area, said Salar, leader of the Kurdish Zargushi tribe.
"My tribe, if we receive help, will control Hamrin mountain and hand it to the Peshmarga forces," Salar said.
Control of this region, a stronghold of extremist groups who operate freely in the area, has been difficult since 2003.
Hamrin region is a disputed area home to about 22,000 Kurdish, Arab (both Shiite and Sunni) Iraqis. Approximately 4,500 of the residents belong to the Kurdish Zargushi tribe, but the Arab Bani Waleed tribe is the most notable among them. Karwi, Rabeea, and Khawalid are also sizable Arab tribes in the region.
Since IS began its advance on the area, relations between the tribes have deteriorated, Salar said.
Salar said of the Arab tribes, "There is no doubt that all of them must either be with IS or leave the area."
However, Sheikh Abu Irfan, a Khawalid tribal leader who escaped to Peshmarga controlled areas with a number of families in his tribe, said, "We are totally against IS and do not accept their rule. That is why the tribal leaders all left Saadiya and fled to Kulajo. We did not fight IS in our city because we had no support. Army and police had left the area. The government did not help us. We did not have necessary weapons. That is why we decided to leave to Kurdistan."
Regarding his relations with Peshmarga forces, Abu Irfan said, "We have an excellent relationship with Peshmarga troops. We have particularly good relations with the political party leaders in Khanaqin," he said, in reference to the largely Kurdish town in Diyala province.
However, he maintained, "Peshmarga did not come to Saadiya to help us; they came to Jalawla and then left."
Mohammed Haji Fayaq, deputy commander of the Peshmarga forces in nearby Garmyan, confirmed that the Kurdish forces haven’t provided any assistance to the Kurdish Zargushi tribe and commended Salar and his men for their bravery in fighting IS alone.
"We’ll help when needed, but I’m not sure if it’s possible to give them weapons," he said.
When IS arrived in the Hamrin region, which extends through multiple provinces and lies near the border of the Kurdistan Region, Sheikh Abdulsamad Salar and his tribe had few options. The tribal leader had to decide whether to flee to the Peshmarga controlled areas, join IS or form a militia from his young tribesmen to fend off IS fighters trying to enter their villages.
Salar chose the latter. "It was not easy to defend the area with a few young men with light weapons, but surrendering to IS wasn’t an option for us," Salar told Rudaw.
The Kurdish Sheikh claims his tribesmen "have killed 55 IS fighters since the arrival of the fighters in the region. The Arab tribal leaders support IS. I have only 400 armed men. I have been able to protect four Kurdish villages in the Hamrin so far, but if we are to continue this fight, we will need Peshmarga support."
It’s unlikely that Peshmerga will enter the area that Salar’s tribal fighters are protecting any time soon. It is near the Jalawla and Saadiya frontlines, which the Peshmarga troops withdrew from after losing battles to IS last month.
IS has blown up at least 60 houses of Kurds in the area, said Salar, leader of the Kurdish Zargushi tribe.
"My tribe, if we receive help, will control Hamrin mountain and hand it to the Peshmarga forces," Salar said.
Control of this region, a stronghold of extremist groups who operate freely in the area, has been difficult since 2003.
Hamrin region is a disputed area home to about 22,000 Kurdish, Arab (both Shiite and Sunni) Iraqis. Approximately 4,500 of the residents belong to the Kurdish Zargushi tribe, but the Arab Bani Waleed tribe is the most notable among them. Karwi, Rabeea, and Khawalid are also sizable Arab tribes in the region.
Since IS began its advance on the area, relations between the tribes have deteriorated, Salar said.
Salar said of the Arab tribes, "There is no doubt that all of them must either be with IS or leave the area."
However, Sheikh Abu Irfan, a Khawalid tribal leader who escaped to Peshmarga controlled areas with a number of families in his tribe, said, "We are totally against IS and do not accept their rule. That is why the tribal leaders all left Saadiya and fled to Kulajo. We did not fight IS in our city because we had no support. Army and police had left the area. The government did not help us. We did not have necessary weapons. That is why we decided to leave to Kurdistan."
Regarding his relations with Peshmarga forces, Abu Irfan said, "We have an excellent relationship with Peshmarga troops. We have particularly good relations with the political party leaders in Khanaqin," he said, in reference to the largely Kurdish town in Diyala province.
However, he maintained, "Peshmarga did not come to Saadiya to help us; they came to Jalawla and then left."
Mohammed Haji Fayaq, deputy commander of the Peshmarga forces in nearby Garmyan, confirmed that the Kurdish forces haven’t provided any assistance to the Kurdish Zargushi tribe and commended Salar and his men for their bravery in fighting IS alone.
"We’ll help when needed, but I’m not sure if it’s possible to give them weapons," he said.
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