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Anbar Sunni tribesmen seeking tribal army: Report

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 8, 2014 9:34AM GMT

Members of Sunni tribes in Iraq's western Anbar Province say they want to form a tribal army to fight ISIL Takfiri militants, a report says.

"We want to establish a tribal army in Anbar," Ahmad Jasim, a resident of Anbar, told the Kurdish newspaper Rudaw, adding "We the people of Anbar will be able to liberate our region from ISIS (ISIL)."

Sunni tribes such as the Albu Nimr tribe have been helping the Iraqi army in its battle against the ISIL extremists operating in restive Anbar Province. In response, the terror group has killed hundreds of tribesmen in recent months.

"We and the Iraqi army have been in the same position for one year and the army hasn't been able to finish this war," Hamid Jubair, another resident of the province told Rudaw, adding "Therefore, I think an army should be created from the people who know the terrain and can run their own security."

Sabah Karhut, the head of the Anbar provincial council, said last week that a tribal army would be formed in the province, adding that the tribal army would cooperate with Iraqi government forces.

"We have nothing against anyone, but with the arrival of these terrorist groups we have lost everything," Alaa Ali, a member of a prominent tribe in Anbar, said, adding, "We are all ready to volunteer for this fight if the Iraqi government agrees" about the formation of "a tribal army."

Iraqi army soldiers, backed by volunteer forces, have been fighting the ISIL for nearly six months now.

Anbar province, which borders war-ravaged Syria, has been a major stronghold of the ISIL elements and continues to be largely controlled by the extremist terror group.

The ISIL militants, who have seized large swathes of land in Iraq and neighboring Syria, have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations and crucifixions, against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians, in both Arab states.

IA/NN/HRB