PMUs rule out news on U.S request over suspension of operations in Tal Afar

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The paramilitary troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi ruled out the news that the U.S. could have urged suspension of military operations in Tal Afar town, Islamic State’s major stronghold near the borders with Syria.
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Speaking to Alghad Press, Karim al-Nuri, a leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units), said “what has been rumored about a request from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to the Iraqi government over suspension of military operations in Tal Afar, fearing shelling by Turkish troops, is ruled out. It’s untrue.”

“The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Haidar al-Abadi decided about participation of the troops in operations in western Mosul, including Tal Afar,” he said adding that the “U.S. is not at that level of stupidity or naivety to make such request in such simple way,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesperson of al-Hashd al-Shaabi, indicated possibilities of pressure to suspend Tal Afar operations. However, he denied having information about U.S. banning the operations there.

“We have not received any information about the U.S. embassy request to the Iraqi government over suspending Tal Afar operations,” Assadi said, adding the troops are waiting for orders from Abadi.

The official IRNA news agency quoted an Iraqi source, whom it described as ‘senior’ earlier on Saturday as saying that “the U.S. embassy in Baghdad urged the Iraqi government to suspend the military offensive in Tal Afar and not liberating the town from the Islamic State claiming that the Turkish troops could bombard the Iraqi forces.”

In remarks earlier this month, Jawad al-Tulaibawi, PMU official, revealed Abadi’s refusal of the troops participation in Tal Afar liberation, saying the orders included liberation of Hatra then Baaj and securing the borders.

Nahla al-Hababi, MP representing the Shiite alliance, said in statements in April that “the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a message to Abadi that the Iraqi troops advance toward Tal Afar would mean a similar advance by Turkish troops toward the town too.

In an TV interview aired in April, Erdogan criticized the PMUs and described them as terrorist entity.