Iraqi Shia militia launches offensive against Kurds

Erbil (IraqA), Oct 26 (IANS) An Iraqi Shia militia on Thursday announced an offensive against Kurds in a strategic town near a tri-border area between Iraq, Syria and Turkey, a day after Kurdish authorities offered to suspend the outcome of an independence referendum that sparked hostilities between Baghdad and the autonomous northern region.

The militia, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, said in a statement they were advancing toward the Kurdish-held town of Faysh Khabur in the northern province of Dohuk, Efe reported.

"The Popular Mobilization Forces and the security forces began this morning large-scale operations to retake Faysh Khabur at the Iraqi-Syrian-Turkish tri-point from gangs of (President of Iraqi Kurdistan) Masoud Barzani," the pro-government forces said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi on Thursday rejected the Kurdish proposal to freeze the results of the independence referendum held on September 25.

In a statement published on his official Facebook page, al-Abadi rather demanded the annulment of the referendum's results and urged Kurdish authorities to respect the Iraqi constitution.

The referendum saw an overwhelming majority of 92 percent vote in favour of independence, although Baghdad described the ballot as "unconstitutional".

Meanwhile, Kurdistan's security council said the Iranian-backed PMF had launched an attack in the town of Zummar (Nineveh province) but was repelled by the Peshmerga forces.

"Peshmerga have destroyed three tanks, five US Humvees and one MRAP used by ISF/Iranian-backed PMF in today's unprovoked attack," the council said on Twitter.

On October 16, the Iraqi government launched a military campaign to seize areas disputed between Baghdad and the autonomous region of Kurdistan.

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