Governor warns Shiite militias should not have role in Mosul fighting

TIKRIT, Iraq – Mosul’s exiled governor Atheel Nujaifi ruled out any role for the Hashd al-Shaabi Shiite militia in the battle for Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city and ISIS’ Iraq stronghold since the militants captured it 10 months ago.

After a crucial role in liberating Tikrit from ISIS, fighting alongside the Iraqi Army, the militia’s leaders have been eyeing the bigger anticipated battle for Mosul.

“We are dealing with the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Defense, not militias operating under specific groups,” Nujaifi said.

In the places the militias have liberate of ISIS there have been reports of atrocities against Sunnis, including in the fight for Tikrit.

In one incident, militants affiliated with the militia attacked a court in the town of Dour near Tikrit, taking prisoner at least 30 Iraqi policemen, according to a Rudaw reporter.

The militia withdrew from Tikrit on Sunday and let the military take charge, in a move to defuse the rising sectarian tensions.

“The presence of Hashd al-Shaabi in Mosul will cause sectarian tensions. The Iraqi government already agreed to exclude the group in the Mosul operation,” Nujaifi told Rudaw.

Nujaifi vowed that the “liberation of Mosul will take place soon.” But he warned, “it may be delayed for a short period of time due to what is going on in Anbar and ISIS getting closer to Baghdad.”

Hadi al-Ameri, the head of Iraq's powerful Shiite militias, known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), said Friday that the forces will capitalize on a hard-won victory in Tikrit and advance westward to liberate Anbar province and finally march for Mosul.

Governor warns Shiite militias should not have role in Mosul fighting

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