MESOP : AGGRESSIVE PKK FIGHTERS IN SHINGAL / Disturbing Kurdish Unity

Kurdpress 1 Jan 2015 – A commander of the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga lashed out at the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for remarks over liberation of Shingal and said Peshmerga can expel the party’s fighters whenever it wills.

Military advisor to Kurdistan Region president and a member of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Zaeim Ali, told Hawlati that “Shingal Mountain is under the control of our forces and we can force out the PKK fighters whenever we will.” “There are more than 2400 Peshmerga forces in the mountain but PKK members are less than 200. How can they defend Shingal with the number of forces? Reality is undeniable if there are no Peshmerga forces, they cannot defend there. It is true that PKK may be powerful in Syria Kurdistan but the situation is different in Kurdistan Region,” he added. Tensions fanned between Peshmerga and the PKK after release of Shingal Mountain and entering Shingal with each one claiming to be the first force to have entered the besieged city and have liberated some parts of it.