Sunni Iraqi fighters join the armed Shiite factions

, who took up arms against ISIS fighters except for one detail, he is a Sunni.

Nawar Mohammed is one of about 250 Sunnis from al-Alam town who joined the "League of the Righteous” or Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq one of the most prominent Shiite factions to fight ISIS organization , that dominated his hometown north of Tikrit (110 km north of Baghdad).

Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq gained over the past years, the reputation as one of the fiercest Shiite groups accused by Sunnis in Iraq of commit acts of kidnapping and killing against them, especially during the sectarian war between 2006 and 2008.

While it was impossible to see formerly , Sunni fighters join Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, but fighting against a common adversary which is ISIS organization which controls large swathes of Iraq since June, overturn some of the concepts.

Muhammad holding a machine gun "Kalashnikov" hanging from his shoulder says , "the whole world was surprised.. for the first time in the history of Asa'ib , a Sunni group" is now formed and affiliated to it.”

He adds, " Asa'ib has trained us and we've become a part of it."

He continues, " Asa'ib, Sunni or Shiites ...there is no difference. These conditions have unified us in reference to the control of the extremist organization on large areas, and implementation of mass killings against Shia elements in the security forces, or opposing Sunnis”.

Mohamed says "With God willing, there will be no more sectarianism “.

The formation of this group is considered a positive signal to the Sunni-Shiite cooperation in fighting side by side, in spite of the sharp ideological differences that often turned out, especially after the US-led invasion in 2003 to the deadliest stations.

The formation of this group is known as the " Asa'ib al-Alam ", the benefits for both parties: Sunni Combatants gain training and support and they can defend their presence areas, while “Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq” is trying to change the reputation associated with them.

In spite of the limited training they received, Asa'ib al-Alam are fighting side by side with Shiite factions and elements of the security forces fighters, to restore their town during the past few days, within a wide process to restore Tikrit city and its environs initiated by Iraqi forces on the second of March .

Hussein Abdul-Abbas, a Shiite from Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq in the vicinity of al-Alam said that the aim of forming a Sunni group is to "hit sectarianism."

He adds that the presence of fighters from the people of the region help in military operations, due to their knowledge of the land.

Jassim Jabara , the head of the security committee in Salahuddin province and its center Tikrit, says that he encouraged the establishment of similar groups in other areas.

He explains, "the people in al- Alam are controlling the region," adding, "There are no security forces", before he continues "No one is tampering, no destruction and no sabotage."

Al-Alam town seem one of the least affected restored towns from ISIS organization , especially when compared to the nearby area of ​​Albu Ajil, in which Shiite factions accuse some of its population of cooperation with the extremist organization known to the media as ISIS.

The population of al-Alam say that al- Jabour Sunni tribe has fought ISIS organization before controlling the town, which made them targets of ISIS.

Mohammed explains after extremists controlled out area "I did not get out (of the town). I stayed in the house. The distance between my house and my uncle's house is 100 meters. I used to go to him and come back only."

He adds that people were not to be safe, not in the street nor when eating or sleeping ... there is no life."

Muhammad born in 1991 noted that the extremists identified his place and shot him, trying to kill him. But he was able to escape by hiding in a house occupied by women. After that, he left the house out of town and then joined the group later known as “Asa'ib al-Alam “

The leader of this group is Sheikh Khalid al-Jabara, one of elders of the clan . the Sheikh wear a military uniform bears the slogan "League of the Righteous" and wraps his head with a Black scarf turned into something like a turban.

He says that elements of the extremist organization see us as "our brothers Shiites referring to the look to Shia by extremists as "rejecting" must be killed.

He added "Today, there are more than 600 young men from this region have been in contact with the sons of the south", in reference to the Shiite fighters coming mostly from the provinces of south of Iraq.

He continues, "I think that this process is the cure for Iraq."