Kurdish authorities force Sunni Arab families to leave Kirkuk after Islamic State attack

Record ID: 83725

  • Title: Kurdish authorities force Sunni Arab families to leave Kirkuk after Islamic State attack
  • Date: 27th October 2016
  • Summary: KIRKUK, IRAQ (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) SUNNI ARAB FAMILY IN BACK OF PICKUP TRUCK WITH BELONGINGS DRIVING OUT OF KIRKUK RUBBLE OF HOUSES OF SUNNI ARABS DEMOLISHED BY KURDISH AUTHORITIES DEMOLISHED HOUSE WITH ROOF SHOWING ON TOP OF RUBBLE VARIOUS OF DEMOLISHED HOUSES / RUBBLE
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2016 10:46
  • Keywords: Iraq Kirkuk Sunni Arabs Islamic State Kurdish authorities homes displaced
  • Location: KIRKUK, IRAQ
  • City: KIRKUK, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155S6CEF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Kurdish authorities forced 250 Sunni Arab families to leave Kirkuk, razing their homes to the ground in the southern part of the Kurdish-controlled city, days after an Islamic State attack which authorities suspect was helped by Sunni sleeper cells.
    A video obtained by Reuters shot on Tuesday (October 25) showed houses razed to the ground in a vast area in Qotan village on the southern outskirts of the city of Kirkuk.
    Authorities in Kirkuk suspect the Islamic State fighters who attacked Kirkuk on Friday (October 21) were helped by Sunni sleeper cells. The United Nations said it had no evidence that the families had helped Islamic State but the timing of the move suggested it was used as a pretext to force them out.
    About 330,000 Sunni Arabs have taken refuge in the oil-rich Kirkuk province in the last two years, after Islamic State swept through northern, central and western Iraq in 2014.
    Some had fled because of the fighting and others because of the hardline Sunni group's harsh rules and the difficult living conditions in their villages and towns.
    Islamic State fighters stormed police stations and buildings in Kirkuk on Friday, killing about 100 security force members and civilians. Sixty-three militants also died in the heavy fighting that lasted until Sunday, when authorities restored control.
    More than 250 families were counted leaving at a main exit checkpoint on Monday and more were crossing on Tuesday, a local humanitarian worker said, adding that some were heading to other camps for displaced people and others trying to return home.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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