Arab tribes in Hawija take up arms as the Islamic State terrorist group steps up attacks

Sunni Arab tribes in Hawija district of Kirkuk province on Friday took up the arms allegedly to defend their areas against the Islamic State (IS).

Hawija and its subdistricts of Rashad and Riyadh have been among the prime targets of the recently increased attacks by IS.

The local people claim that the Iraqi army and security forces are incapable of securing their areas, therefore, on Friday they took up their arms and gathered outside Hawija to demonstrate power.

Hawija is located some 55 kilometers to the southwest of Kirkuk. It was among the strongholds of IS once the group was in control of a vast area in north and west of Iraq.

Multiple reports, however, claim that the tribal men in Hawija themselves were members of IS when the district was under the control of the jihadists. Therefore, their move to take up arms is interpreted as an alarming development.

Source: Basnews