Iraqi forces take Sinjar after Peshmerga pullout

By Idris Okuducu

MOSUL, Iraq (AA) - Iraqi government forces seized control of the northwestern Mosul's Sinjar district on Tuesday after withdrawal of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, a Kurdish commander said.

A joint force of Iraqi army, federal police and allied fighters from Hashd al-Shaabi militia entered the center of the city early morning, Qasim Shesho told Anadolu Agency.

He said Peshmerga troops had pulled out from all government buildings in Sinjar without confrontation.

On Monday, Iraqi forces seized full control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk amid tension between Baghdad and Erbil over last month’s illegitimate referendum on Kurdish independence.

The vote had faced strong opposition from most regional and international actors, including the U.S., Turkey and Iran, who warned that the poll would distract from Iraq’s fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.