ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Hundreds have fled territories west of Kirkuk that are controlled by the Islamic State group (ISIS) and are awaiting permits to enter the Kurdistan region, a Kurdish commander told Rudaw on Friday.
“Over the last 10 days, 256 families and 173 people have surrendered to Peshmerga forces on Kirkuk’s western borders,” said Kemal Kirkuki, the Peshmerga commander of the western front.
He added that they are being held at the borderline between Peshmerga and ISIS forces, and that they are undergoing a vetting process.
“They have not been allowed to come into the cities of the Kurdistan region.” he added. “Some members of ISIS were arrested among [the people) and it's suspected that there might be more ISIS among them,” Kirkuki said.
He added that the refugees are being helped by the Peshmerga, who are supplying them with food, and that this would continue until there is a change in the situation.
Thousands of people have fled to Peshmerga-controlled areas from parts of Kirkuk and Salahadin province, since a massive ISIS assault in Iraq more than a year ago.
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