



SHARE ON













ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A prominent Shiite militia has been expelled from the town of Khurmatu, south of Kirkuk, a Kurdish security official said.Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a leading militia from the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, had two military posts in Khurmatu but was forced to leave by persons from Baghdad, Faruq Ahmad, the head of Khurmatu’s Asayesh, a Kurdish security force, told Rudaw.“A force from Baghdad has entered Khurmatu and arrested two leaders of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, closed down their military posts and forced its forces to leave the urban areas.”Their expulsion was “because of their internal problems and violations of the agreement in the area,” Ahmad added.He did not specify the nature or identity of the forces that entered the city from Baghdad.Kurdish forces and Shiite militias reached an agreement in late April to end clashes between them that killed dozens of Peshmerga forces, members of the Shiite militias, and civilians.According to the agreement both parties agreed to withdraw their military forces to outside the urban areas.Khurmatu is an ethnically and religiously mixed town. Kurds and Arabs, Shiites and Sunnis live in the area. It is officially part of Salahaddin province, but is just 80 kilometres south of Kirkuk. It is strategically located on the main highway that links the Kurdistan Region with Baghdad.Asaib Ahl al-Haq was accused in 2015 of harassing Kurdish residents of Baghdad and forcing them to leave the Iraqi capital. And some drivers who cover the route between Kurdish areas and Baghdad have made complaints about the militia group.Asaib Ahl al-Haq denied the accusations and said they have friendly ties with Kurdish political parties.