Saddam Hussein regime came to an end as the result of the US intervention in 2003, and Kurds thus applied to the Kirkuk governorate and parliament to return to their houses.

The Kirkuk governor and council of the time decided to place 150 Kurdish families in the neighborhood and houses known as Maesker Xalit in Kirkuk. The families were given a document signed by the entire Kirkuk governor and members of the assembly and moved to those houses where they have remained until 16 October 2017. Then settled the Iraqi army and Heshdi Shabi forces intervened in the disputed areas included Kirkuk.

Families were forced to move on the first day of the attacks and found shelter in places such as Qerehincir, Chimen, Nawashiwan, Tekeye, Chamchamal. After the attacks stopped, the families who wanted to return to their homes found that they had actually being occupied by Ankara-backed İTC groups.

The families were subjected to heavy insults by the mercenaries when they stated that the houses belonged to them and they wanted to return and live there.

A second immigration forced the 150 families of Maesker Xalit, who were not allowed to return to their homes because of the ITC and Turkmen group.

Families told ANF about their situation.

Supreme Council member Hawkar Tijey recalled that "during the Baath regime poor families had to migrate to other cities, leaving Kirkuk. When the Baathist regime collapsed, - he added - families returned to Kirkuk. In 2003, we started to settle in Xalid and Feyleq under the supervision of the US Consulate in Kirkuk province. After the events on 16 October 2017, Hashd al-Shaabi and the Turkmen Front occupied 150 Kurdish houses and seized their possessions. The Turkmen brought from Tal Afar, Tuz Khurmatu and Duhok were placed in these houses. The Kurds, who were forced to migrate, settled in other places”.

Ezîz Abdûllah, who was expelled from his home by the Turkmen mercenaries, said: “When I wanted to go to my house three vehicle-full Hashdi Turkmen mercenaries occupied it. They tortured us and forced us out of the house”.

Hîwa Abdullah, who was forcibly expelled from her house, is living in the Tekeye district of Sulaymaniyah. “They just forced us out of the house – she recalled – didn’t let us take anything with us. There were 10 million Iraqi Dinars in the house. All the goods were plundered by the mercenaries of the Turkmen front”