Mysterious withdrawal of Hashd forces from Zummar, Rabia region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Parts of the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias have reportedly withdrawn from Zummar and Rabia in Mosul, a source in the region told Rudaw, as is also confirmed by the Peshmerga ministry.

A local source, who preferred not to be named, said that around 100 vehicles in Rabia and 200 in Zummar of the Hashd al-Shaabi have retreated from the area.

Asked what the reason behind the withdrawal might be, he said the Hashd forces had told the local population that Peshmerga forces would be replacing them.

Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga Ministry Jamal Iminiki confirmed the news to Rudaw saying they were aware of the Hashd’s withdrawal, but claimed that he did not know why they had pulled out.

Iminiki said there was no agreement between Erbil and Baghdad for the Peshmerga to enter these areas.

On October 17, a day after Iraqi forces and the Hashd took the oil rich city of Kirkuk, the army and Hashd al-Shaabi advanced and entered Shingal, Rabia and Zummar.

The Peshmerga and those forces later engaged in a series of clashes as the Iraqi army made an attempt to advance towards Fish Khabur bordering Syria and Ibrahim Khalil, on the border with Turkey.

However, the situation ceased after several rounds of talks between both sides.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a telephone conversation with Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday night that he was happy to see that tensions between the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces have recently calmed. He valued patience on both parts to protect peace.

Mysterious withdrawal of Hashd forces from Zummar, Rabia region

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