Kurds protect Shiite Turkmen property in Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — In the continuation of tensions between the Kurdish Peshmerga and Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militias in the town of Khurmatu in Diyala province 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kirkuk, the Shiite group has taken dozens of Kurds captive and reportedly burned down Kurdish homes, but the Peshmerga nonetheless are protecting homes and property belonging to Shiite Turkmen families in the town, the town’s Kurdish mayor claims.

"Sixty-nine Kurdish people were taken captive by the Hashd al-Shaabi, 59 of them are rescued so far and 10 are still left," Khurmatu Mayor Shalal Abdul told Rudaw.

A Rudaw team visited Shiite Turkmen neighborhoods in Khurmatu where Kurdish Asayish (Kurdish security forces) have been protecting the areas from potential Kurdish retaliation. Rudaw observed Asayish deploying to Arab neighborhoods for the same reason.

"Thank God our homes are all protected, they did not let any harm happen to us," one Shiite Turkmen resident told Rudaw Sunday.

"I am a Shiite Turkmen, I am thankful to the Asayish, the Kurdish people here, they are all our neighbors for many years," said another resident. "I am calling on the Hashd al-Shaabi to stop creating sedition between Kurds and Shiite Turkmen in Khurmatu."

A Kurdish official told Rudaw Sunday that the Hashd al-Shaabi had arrived in the town of Saadia with heavy weapons and intended to enter by force the Kurdish-controlled town of Jalawla.

Jalawla and Saadia, together with Khurmatu, are located in Diyala province and have been heavily disputed areas between Kurdish and pro-central government Shiite forces even as both factions are fighting the Islamic State.

Amid recent tensions between Kurdish forces and Shiite militia in Khurmatu, locals reported Saturday that the militiamen had torched people’s homes and shops in several parts of the town.

“Over the past two days, several Kurdish people's homes and shops have been burned down by the Hashd al-Shaabi in Khurmatu neighborhoods, including Askari, Ten and downtown Khurmatu,” an eyewitness, who did not want to be named, told Rudaw.

Rudaw has learned that Peshmerga and Shiite militia representatives in the area, including the mayor of Khurmatu, are holding talks to prevent further escalation.

Fighting broke out on Friday when a militia convoy allegedly refused to stop at a checkpoint manned by Kurdish forces, resulting in a firefight that left three Peshmerga and two Shiite militiamen dead.

On Friday controversial Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani, Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Shiite militia leader Hadi al-Amiri to work towards ending the conflict between the Peshmerga and Hashd al-Shaabi in Diyala.