Shiite paramilitary forces arrive outside Kirkuk

KIRKUK - Two convoys of Shiite paramilitary forces arrived in Kirkuk’s southern outskirts as assaults on the Islamic State (ISIS) gunmen in the area intensified during the weekend.

Sources told Rudaw that the Al-Ahbab and Al-Nasr brigades have been stationed just 15 km south of the oil-rich city with heavy artillery and medium range missiles.

“These are disciplined forces that have not been defeated by the ISIS in any battle,” said Mahdi Taqi, a Shiite military leader who took part in the operation that pushed back the jihadists from Amerli last September.

“Our Shiite fighters have been able to degrade the ISIS in Iraq and with that an excessive danger has been averted,” Taqi said. “Iraqis are no more afraid of the jihadists and we thank any country or side that has helped us.”

The two taskforces, consisting of more than 500 fighters, travel with large photographs of the Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attached to their heavy armored vehicles.  

Sources told Rudaw the two military teams operate in coordination with the Iranian Quds brigade, an elite military wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

“These forces are commanded by Iraqis themselves and have nothing to do with Iran or any other country,” Taqi said. “They are here to push back ISIS from our Bashir village,” he added.

The brigades took part in the all-out assault on the ISIS last week which pushed the jihadist gunmen back from the cities of Jalawla and Saadiya.

“We had no prior knowledge of the arrival of these forces,” the head of Kirkuk police, Lieutenant Jamal Tahir, told Rudaw. “We will certainly take a position as we discuss it in our coming security meeting,” he added.

Military sources say the two units are equipped with medium range missiles that have been provided by the Revolutionary Guards as part of Iran’s effort to assist Iraq against the jihadists.

“They have dug a trench around their temporary base,” said a military source, who wished to remain anonymous.

“We were told that these forces are local Shiites from the neighboring Khurmatu area,” said Rakan Said, an official with Kirkuk’s Security Board. “But there seems to be more into it which we try to find out.”