Iraq: Sunni Turkmen oppose Shia militias entering Tel Afar

Sunni Turkmen and Arabs from Tel Afar have stated that they are against the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) entering their town, as the predominantly Shia paramilitary force continues to make advances toward the Daesh-held town west of Mosul.

The Sunnis of Tel Afar, 60 kilometres west of Mosul, say they want a neutral, non-sectarian force to liberate their town.

“According to the previous plan the Iraqi army, federal police and anti-terror forces were to take part in the operation [to recapture Tel Afar],” Nabil Harbo, former MP and independent Turkmen politician from Tel Afar, told the Iraqi Kurdish news agency Rudaw yesterday.

“But the Iraqi government exceptionally has allowed the [PMF] to participate in the Tel Afar operation,” he complained.

“We, as the Turkmen tribal council and politicians from Tel Afar, plus all the Sunni blocs, have asked Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to not allow the Hashd to participate in the Tel Afar operation,” he added, using the Arabic term for the PMF.

Harbo explained that the reason for concern over a partisan and sectarian force entering Tel Afar is because of the sectarian tensions that exploded in Iraq after the 2003 US-led war.

“Whether or not the Hashd are going to commit crimes, we want a neutral force to retake Tel Afar in order to prevent violence and to solve [sectarian] problems,” Harbo said.

“The Iraqi people and politicians know well that the first sectarian sedition in 2003 rose up in Tel Afar. If the Hashd enter Tel Afar, would they not retaliate?” he asked, referencing how sectarian tensions that have been simmering for years may erupt.

“History shows us that the stability of Tel Afar is important for Ninawa, Kurdistan and Iraq,” Harbo said, adding “Whoever allows the Hashd to retake Tel Afar is wrong, because this will strengthen Daesh extremism.”

With PMF units already in control of Tel Afar airport, six kilometres south of the Turkmen majority town, Harbo said he believes the only way to dissuade the paramilitary force from Tel Afar is for coalition forces to call for a withdrawal and replace the paramilitaries with the Iraqi army.

“There is one hope for preventing the Hashd from entering Tel Afar, and that is the international coalition led by the US. It can make them withdraw from the area,” Harbo said.

“There are two Iraqi army brigades now in Baghdad. They have been trained by the Americans to retake Tel Afar. They can replace the Hashd.”

Tel Afar is a town that is predominantly inhabited by the Iraqi Turkmen minority, most of whom are Sunnis. Neighbouring Turkey has threatened to take action should the PMF start to commit sectarian atrocities in the Turkmen town.