Against the provisions of Baghdad-Erbil agreement, PMF steps up reinforcements in Sinjar

Shafaq News / Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces-PMF) has stepped up its deployment of troops in Sinjar, Nineveh Governorate, in contrast with the Sinjar agreement stipulating the evacuation of the district of the PMF.

In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the PMF said, "the formation of the Sinjar Force, the third regiment of the Popular Mobilization Forces, today, Friday, enhanced its deployment in Sinjar district of Nineveh Governorate, under the direction of the command of the Nineveh sector of the Popular Mobilization Forces."

The statement added, "the deployment aims to strengthen the forces stationed there to achieve security and stability in the region and secure the southern sector in preparation for the return of the displaced families to their hometowns."

Those reinforcements come in contravention of the terms of the agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region regarding the normalization of conditions in the Sinjar district.

The agreement concluded last October 9 provides for removing armed groups from the district, led by the anti-Ankara Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the PMF.

Baghdad says that it began implementing the agreement at the beginning of last December by deploying federal government forces and removing armed groups from the judiciary.

However, the Kurdistan Regional Government says that the agreement has not yet been implemented. The continued presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Fighters and PMF is the most critical obstacle to implementing the agreement and establishing stability in the district in preparation for the return of thousands of displaced families.