Free Republic

Hakan Fidan, Undersecretary of Turkey’s secret intelligence MIT, and Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Iranian Qods Forces, took part in the operation of the Iraqi army and the Hashd al-Shaabi forces against Kirkuk, PUK Spokesperson Sadi Ehmed Pire said. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Spokesperson Sadi Ehmed Pire organized a press conference in Hewler and answered the questions of journalists concerning the operations against Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces on October 16. The PUK Spokesperson stated that the attacks against Kirkuk were promoted by both Major-General Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Qods Forces of the Islamic...

The US troops stationed in Makhmur have also retreated after Hashd al-Shaabi took the control of the town from peshmerga forces. The US troops stationed in Makhmur town of Mosul have retreated to Hewler (Erbil) Wednesday evening after peshmerga forces withdrew and handed over the control of the town to Hashd al-Shaabi militia. The US troops reportedly blew up the base before their evacuation and withdrawal to the surroundings of Hewler next to the peshmerga forces. The US military base in Makhmur was constructed before the operation to liberate Mosul and an undisclosed number of US special forces were stationed...