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Excerpt from nordicmonitor.com
The Turkish foreign minister has implied that an understanding has been reached with an Iran-backed Shiite militia force — the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Al-Hashd al-Shaabi) — in Iraq regarding the cleansing of the Sinjar region in northern Iraq of elements of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.
However, experts have concerns about this collaboration since the group under Iran’s control has had close ties with the PKK in the past, and they claim that this collaboration, if successful, could lead to an increase in Iran’s influence in the region.
In an interview with Al Arabiya on Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said discussions have been ongoing with the PMF in Sinjar for a military offensive against the PKK. Fidan emphasized the significance of this dialogue, underscoring the evolving role of the the PMF in Iraq following the passage of new laws. Collaborating closely with Falah al-Fayyad, the head of the PMF, Fidan expressed confidence in the force’s commitment to eradicating the PKK presence in Sinjar. He outlined a two-stage plan, starting with the siege of Sinjar, followed by a demand for PKK withdrawal from the region. Fidan emphasized the necessity for Iraqi soldiers to confront the PKK when needed.
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