SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi military has increased the number of its troops in Sinjar district, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official said on Tuesday, warning of the new development in the area.
The Iraqi military has been deploying more troops to Sinjar since clashes erupted between its units and the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) in the district last week.
An Iraqi soldier and two YBS fighters were killed during the clashes, according to a local official.
Head of PUK office in Nineveh province Ghayas Surchi told Esta Media Network that the Iraqi military had increased its troops fourfold compared to before.
The official said the Iraqi military’s aim was to expel Kurdish fighters and to take control over oil wells in the district.
“If the Iraqi military seizes the oil wells, they will be taken out of Kurdish hands forever,” he noted. “The Kurdistan Regional Government should resolve the issue with the federal government through negotiations.”
He also said the YBS should ask for “permission to work” from the federal government.
In April, YBS fighters clashed with the Iraqi military in Sinune town near Sinjar after Iraq’s army requested Ezdikhan Asayish (security) to hand over its base in the town.
