SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A leader of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said on Monday that U.S. troops enter Iraq through the Kurdistan Region without “Baghdad’s knowledge”.
Head of Hashid Shammar Abu Badr al-Shammari said the American forces use the Semalka border crossing in the Kurdistan Region to enter Iraq from Syria without informing the Iraqi government.
Hashid Shammar is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, stationed in Rabia district in western Mosul.
“The U.S. forces enter Iraq through the Semalka border crossing. It passes through Rabia district and in many cases, they take advantage of this road to pass Anbar province and station in Ain al-Assad air base,” Shammari told al-Maalomah.
“The entry and exit of the American forces are without the knowledge of Iraqi government, and this is a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty,” he added.
The Semalka border crossing connects the Kurdistan Region with Syria. It is under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces.
U.S. troops use the border crossing to transport logistic support and equipment to Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
