Sectarian rhetoric rises in preparation for Mosul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A prominent Shiite leader declared that no force could prevent them from participating in an anticipated battle for Mosul. He also accused Sunnis of refusing allow Kurdish forces from joining the offensive against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Mosul.

 

“We are going to take part in the battle for Mosul and nobody can prevent us from doing so,” Hadi Amiri, head of the Shiite Badr Organization, told Rudaw on Saturday. “The general commander of the Iraqi armed forces and the Hashd al-Shaabi [Shiite militia] have decreed [Shiite] involvement in this offensive.”

 

Amiri added that Sunni parties have rejected Kurdish involvement in liberating Mosul and have accepted just the Iraqi army.

 

“Sunnis say they just accept the involvement of the Iraqi army. Although they are against it, the Kurdish leadership has decided that the Peshmerga should participate,” Amiri explained.

 

He added that the Kurds will withdraw from areas they liberate from ISIS.

 

“As Hashd al-Shaabi militants hand over area they liberate to the Iraqi forces, the Peshmerga forces have to do the same thing. For example, when we liberate Turkmen or Sunni areas, we had them over to the [Iraqi authorities].”

 

Amiri’s comments coincide with an official declaration by the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi recognizing the Hashd al-Shaabi as part of the Iraqi defense system.

 

In response to claims made by Amiri, Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, commander of the Peshmerga Seventy Forces, told Rudaw, “I do not answer Hadi Amiri. But areas under the control of the Peshmerga are liberated with the blood of 1,500 martyrs and around 9000 wounds.”

 

 

Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, commander of the Peshmerga Seventy Forces. Photo :Rudaw

 

Mustafa insisted that they have liberated Kurdish lands that “were Arabized before. During the fight against ISIS, the Iraqi army did not help the Peshmerga even with one bullet. They were even sometimes making problems for us.”

 

Therefore, Mustafa reiterated, “We are not going to retreat even from one span of territory liberated by the Peshmerga, even if there is the heaviest pressure on us.”

 

Asked about Peshmerga involvement in the imminent Mosul offensive, the Peshmerga commander answered, “As long as ISIS is in Iraq, they pose threats to the Kurdistan Region. Therefore the fight against ISIS is our priority. We have spoken with the counter-ISIS coalition about our participation in the fight against ISIS in Mosul in terms of military, political and humanitarian aspects.”

 

 Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the United States and the Kurdistan Region earlier this month, Kurdish forces will withdraw only from areas they liberate in Mosul.