Peshmerga threaten to attack Shiite militia near Iranian border

Peshmerga threaten to attack Shiite militia near Iranian border

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A frontline Peshmerga commander has threatened to attack a Shiite militia unless it withdraws Thursday from a newly liberated town in Kurdish area of northern Diyala province.

Jalawla also known as (Gulala) in Kurdish, is a town in Diyala Governorate. It is located on Diyala River. 8 km north of Saadia. In 2003 it had an estimated population of some 100,000 people. Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Sunni Turkmens and small assyrian population.

Mahmoud Sangawi, leader of Peshmerga forces on the Garmaser front, told Rudaw on Thursday the Shiite militia, known as Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, must retreat south to Saadia town or it will be a war.

“Upon the order of the Garmaser front commander, today is the deadline for the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters to withdraw from the town of Jalawla. If they do not, the Peshmerga will attack them,” said Sangawi.

He added: “Now, the Hashd al-Shaabi militates have started preparations to leave."

From July to November 2014 the city was mostly under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and local Arab tribes which seized the town from the Iraqi army.

On the 23 November 2014, the Kurdish Peshmerga and PKK troops recaptured the whole city. Kurdish politicians declared immediately, that the city won't be given back to the Iraqi Government due to its previous failure to secure the city and the Kurdish population from the Terrorists. According to Kurdish officials Jalawla will be included into the Kurdistan Region. Jalawla's name have been changed back to it's original ancient name called ''Gulala'' by Kurdistan Regional Government.