“All the plans have been put in place, and there is a formal decision for the Hashd al-Watani militia to be mixed with the Peshmerga forces in the Mosul war,” Zuhair Hazin Jabouri, a spokespersons for the Sunni militia known as Hashd al-Watani, told Rudaw.
“The Hashd al-Watani is to receive its commands from the Peshmerga forces during the war,” Jabouri added.
Erbil, Baghdad, and Washington reached an accord concerning cooperation between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army in the battle for Mosul during a tripartite meeting hosted by the Kurdish president in mid-September.
Jabouri said they have resolved some “technical problems” and political and sectarian tensions that existed in the past which resulted in a delay launching the offensive to liberate the Sunni-majority city.
The possible participation of Shiite militia has stirred debate in the country as Sunni officials fear an escalation of sectarian tensions between the two groups, particularly following reports of human rights violations committed against Sunni residents of Fallujah by the Shiite militia.
In discussions between leadership from Erbil, Baghdad, and the US-led international coalition, it was decided that only Iraqi forces will enter Mosul city in order to mitigate concerns of sectarian violence.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion on pre- and post-liberation planning for Mosul hosted by Erbil’s Middle East Research Institute (MERI) last week, Jabar Yawar, chief of staff and spokesperson for the Peshmerga ministry, said that, while Peshmerga and other forces will participate in the military operation, “It’s agreed on that just the Iraqi army and federal police and local police will enter the city of Mosul.”
Yousef al-Kilabi, a spokesperson for the Shiite militia, told Rudaw on Monday that the group would take part in the offensive despite concerns.
The Iraqi and Kurdish forces have virtually besieged Mosul, leaving only one escape route for the militants to leave the city for neighboring Syria, hoping many of the foreign fighters would choose the safety of ISIS-held areas in Syria over a bloody war in Mosul.
