Iraqi government forces celebrate after they claimed they have gained complete control of the Diyala province, near the town of Muqdadiyah, on January 26, 2015 (AFP PHOTO / YOUNIS AL-BAYATI)
At the same time that the Iraqi army has announced the liberation of Diyala province in the east of the country from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the region’s local tribes accused some of the Shi’ite volunteer forces who helped liberate the province of targeting Sunnis there.
In a press conference held in Diyala province on Sunday, Hadi Al-Ameri, who leads the Badr Organization, the armed wing of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (a Shi’ite Islamist party) which is involved in the fight alongside Iraqi troops, told reporters all populated areas in the province had been “completely liberated” from the presence of the extremist group.
“Our next meeting will be in Salah Al-Din province after we liberate Tikrit . . . and we will also liberate Kirkuk soon so long as we have these brave soldiers from the popular movements [Shi’ite volunteer groups] and the officers from the army,” Ameri said.