Militias carry out 'revenge attack' in Iraq's Diyala
Armed fighters fired mortar shells and broke into homes in the Diyala province following a suicide bomb that killed at least 60 people, including three militia leaders.
2 min read
Diyala was retaken from Islamic State with the help of the Popular Mobilisation militias [Getty]
Popular Mobilisation Forces carried out 'revenge attacks' in Diyala, eastern Iraq, following a suicide bomb that killed at least 60 people in the province.
Armed militias fired mortar shells on towns in the province, with militias carrying out attacks and breaking into a number of homes in the city of Muqdadiyah.
Residents of the town said that gunmen dressed in black, carrying various banners, came into the town demanding revenge for victims of the suicide bomb, which included three of their militia leaders.
Speaking by phone from Erbil, Sheikh Walid al-Nuami, one of the city’s leaders told The New Arab that at least 30 civilians have been injured in the ongoing attacks.
The attacks came three hours after the withdrawal of the Iraqi army who had handed over the responsibility of security for the city to local police.
However, the police have been accused of cooperating with the militias, Nuami added.
Last month Human Rights Watch condemned revenge attacks by militias against Sunnis in Muqdadiyah, which erupted after the Islamic State [IS] group bombed a cafe frequented by militiamen.
Diyala was retaken from IS with the help of the Popular Mobilisation militias, last year.
Following the fighting, militias reportedly prevented the majority of 150,000 displaced families from returning to their homes in the area.
Armed militias fired mortar shells on towns in the province, with militias carrying out attacks and breaking into a number of homes in the city of Muqdadiyah.
Residents of the town said that gunmen dressed in black, carrying various banners, came into the town demanding revenge for victims of the suicide bomb, which included three of their militia leaders.
Speaking by phone from Erbil, Sheikh Walid al-Nuami, one of the city’s leaders told The New Arab that at least 30 civilians have been injured in the ongoing attacks.
The attacks came three hours after the withdrawal of the Iraqi army who had handed over the responsibility of security for the city to local police.
However, the police have been accused of cooperating with the militias, Nuami added.
Last month Human Rights Watch condemned revenge attacks by militias against Sunnis in Muqdadiyah, which erupted after the Islamic State [IS] group bombed a cafe frequented by militiamen.
Diyala was retaken from IS with the help of the Popular Mobilisation militias, last year.
Following the fighting, militias reportedly prevented the majority of 150,000 displaced families from returning to their homes in the area.
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