The Iraqi central army and Hashd al-Shaabi had launched attacks on October 16 to take over the Kurdish areas dubbed “disputed territory”, using the referendum held by KDP’s imposition on September 25. In these attacks, Jalawla, Mendeli, Khanaqin, Xurmatû, Dakuk, Kirkuk and surroundings, Makhmur, Shengal, Rabia, Zumar, Pirdê and many villages, towns and districts were taken over. The Iraqi Turkmen Front (Irak Türkmen Cephesi - ITC) gangs took advantage of this and launched attacks on Kurds living in these areas. With these attacks, hundreds of thousands of Kurds migrated. Kurds who wanted to protect themselves and their children from ITC attacks migrated and the ITC gangs burned down hundreds of homes and workplaces, looting thousands.

HEAVY LOSSES IN XURMATÛ

The ITC gangs launched attacks against Kurds in many of the locations after the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi took over Kurdish areas dubbed “disputed territory”. One of the most attacked places is Xurmatû and the damage here has been huge.

Before the invasion and the start of ITC attacks against Kurds, Xurmatû had a population of 190.000. As a result of the attacks, 80.000 Kurds moved away from Xurmatû.

The list of burned, looted, exploded and pillaged homes and workplaces in Xurmatû in ITC attacks against Kurds is long: 59 have been destroyed. 12 political party headquarters including the Kurdistan Free Society Movement’s have been burned. 5 radio stations and TV networks have been burned. 357 homes have been burned. 1700 homes have been looted. 357 shops, clubs and wedding halls have been looted. 17 restaurants have been burned. 8 workshops and small factories have been looted and burned.

The list continues: 11 Kurds have been killed. Over 200 Kurds have been wounded and 7 were lost, there is no information on their whereabouts. 500 animals have been confiscated. 200 cars that belonged to Kurds were confiscated and stolen.

DAKUK: HOMES DEMOLISHED, ONE JOURNALIST KILLED

Another center of ITC attacks on Kurds was Kirkuk’s Dakuk district.

23 homes have been burned to date in Dakuk, Kirkuk. One wedding hall and one gas station were exploded. One journalist has been killed.

Out of the owners of the burned houses in Dakuk, those who were identified are Haci Şakir, Hiwa Reşid, Mam Rüstem Asi, Eyyüp Mecid, Xurşid Evdıl, Silah Eli Maruf, Dilzar Muhammed, Soran Suud, Hüner Nuri and Mustafa and Bilal whose last names are unknown.

NO STANCE TAKEN

ITC gangs act in accordance with Turkey’s MİT and the AKP-MHP. They carry out many of these attacks on Kurds in Xurmatû, Dakuk and other places under the name Hashd al-Shaabi. It is significant that the Iraqi army, federal police or Hashd al-Shaabi haven’t taken any stance despite this situation.

NO NEWS FROM TAZA, BASHİR AND JALAWLA

There are reports that under the Hashd al-Shaabi name the ITC gangs have looted and burned Kurdish homes in many other locations including Taza, Bashir and Jalawla. But connections are limited to these areas, so there is no concrete information on how many homes and workplaces have been burned or looted.