Tabnak – While different groups and factions are still attempting to drive the ISIS terrorists out of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, internal clashes between some of these groups have caused new challenges in the way. This could also raise renewed concerns about the future of Iraq and its unity after defeating ISIS.
According to "Reuters”, rival Kurdish groups clashed in Iraq's northwestern Sinjar region on Friday, two Kurdish security sources said, causing deaths on both sides. The fighting erupted when Peshmerga Rojava forces deployed toward the border with Syria, encroaching on territory controlled by a local affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
There have been reports of deaths on both sides during the fighting, which involved heavy machinegun. In a statement on Friday, the YBS said the fighting began when the Peshmerga Rojava tried to seize its positions, and accused Turkey of instigating the violence. "It is a totally provocative initiative,” the YBS said.
In a report of the incident, Al-Jazeera presents a deeper view to the issue, referring to the role of each side in today’s clashes. According to the report, Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan Autonomous Region, has close ties with Turkey and Turkish troops are currently stationed in the Bashiqa camp in northern Iraq with his invitation - and against Baghdad's will - training local fighters who are supposed to take part in the operation to oust ISIS from Mosul.
The PKK, on the other hand, is an armed group that has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy within Turkey since 1984. Turkey, the United States and the European Union designate the PKK as a "terrorist organization".
Yazidi groups in Sinjar, who are ethnically Kurdish, have been trained to fight against ISIS by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), an armed group which Turkey claims to be the Syrian arm of the PKK.
However, today’s clashes highlight the risk of conflict and turf wars between the multiple forces arrayed against Islamic State, many of which lean on regional patrons for political support or arms. In a situation that Iraq needs a united force to fight against the terrorists, such clashes could further undermine the stability of the country and complicate the operation.
The things may be regarded as even more complex when we remind that after taking wide swaths of territories from ISIS by Peshmerga forces, Barzani and the other Kurdish officials of Iraq have once again raised demands for and independent Kurdistan out of Baghdad’s control.
Thus, one could anticipate multiple disputes and clashes between various sides operating against ISIS once the terrorist group is defeated in Mosul. Of course, in the current situation, the future of Iraq as a unified state heavily depends on the role of regional and international actors and their interests, together with how the Iraqi government will manage the demands of the domestic groups.
