Shafaq news/ The security situation in some disputed areas (included in Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution) are still unstable and vulnerable to Islamic State (ISIS) attacks, which increased in the last period resulting in loss of life and property, especially in Diyala, Kirkuk and Salahuddin.

The tension between the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as well as with Peshmerga forces, which caused Peshmerga’s withdrawal in order to prevent bloodshed in October 2017, all contributed to security complications that escalated ISIS’s activity in those areas.

Which renewed the calls for redeploying Peshmerga in Khanaqin (105 km northeast of Baquba), to deal with the escalating threats and attacks after ISIS’s activity increased in the disputed areas.

Basheer Abdullah, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and a member of the local council, Stated to Shafaq News, “ISIS is exploiting the security gap between Peshmerga and the army to carry out terrorist operations in Khanaqin as well as what has been witnessed in Jalawlaa (in the north of Diyala) in the last two years. 

“Peshmerga and Asayish (the Kurdish security service in Kurdistan), have specific information about ISIS and their families’ locations, and have succeeded in ending any terrorist activity in Khanaqin and its outskirts during the past 15 years. “

Abdullah considered the withdrawal of Peshmerga by the Federal Government’s decision “a security disaster”, in which dozens of innocent civilians were killed, without any effective solutions from the security forces present in Khanaqin. And stressed on redeploying the Peshmerga in Khanaqin and find a joint coordination to prevent terrorist gangs from targeting civilians and security sectors. 

Deleir Hasan Sayeh, Mayor of Khanaqin, declined to make any statements about the matter, despite his support calls to return Peshmerga to Diyala’s outskirts, and only said, “we have repeatedly asked with no veil” 

Peshmerga withdrawal from Khanaqin in 2017 caused a vast security gap that escalated the terrorist attacks unprecedentedly.

Security statistics confirm that 84 villages in Khanaqin turned to lost security areas, which made it vulnerable to infiltration and transportation of ISIS elements coming from Tal-Hemrin, Kirkuk and Salahuddin.

From his part , a leader in the PMF / Diyala said that, " Peshmerga forces are stripped of any combat roles in Khanaqin and its surroundings since the events of October 2017 until now. 

The PMF leader, who asked for anonymity, “The Peshmerga forces’ presence are limited to the headquarters of the Kurdish parties and are not allowed to roam”, noting that, Peshmerga file in Khanaqin was settled in agreements with the security and Peshmerga leaders years ago. 

The leader denies the existence of any differences between the Federal Security Forces and Peshmerga in Khanaqin, warning from "hostile parties trying to ignite tension between the two sides by carrying out terrorist attacks and trying to link them to Peshmerga or PMF."