Iraq Says Integrating Sinjar Protection Units and Handing Over Mountain Positions Fall Under Federal Authority
Iraqi Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief spokesperson Sabah al-Numan said on Wednesday that integrating and organizing members of the Sinjar Protection Units, as well as taking over their positions in Mount Sinjar, fall exclusively under the authority of the federal government. He confirmed that the positions are being handed over to the Iraqi Army and other armed forces formations.
In a statement, al-Numan said specialized committees are continuing efforts to implement the plan to place all weapons under state control, in line with directives from Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Faleh al-Zaidi. He stressed that security measures in Sinjar are military and field operations conducted under the authority of the federal government and its security leadership.
He added that the federal government is coordinating with the local administration in Sinjar to advance reconstruction, compensate victims’ families, accelerate the return of displaced residents, and end their suffering in displacement camps. The government is also working toward holding local elections in accordance with the law to establish an administration that represents the will of Sinjar’s residents.
Al-Numan emphasized that strengthening the presence of the Iraqi Army and other security formations, alongside taking control of Mount Sinjar, is essential to reinforcing state authority, enforcing the law, and safeguarding national sovereignty. He also expressed the government’s readiness to address challenges related to weapons control and the integration of security personnel in accordance with national interests and applicable laws.
The statement follows remarks by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Interior Ministry on Tuesday, which expressed concern over federal government arrangements concerning Sinjar, claiming they were being pursued unilaterally without consultation with the regional government.
On Monday, Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced the start of procedures to integrate the Sinjar Resistance Units, known as the YBS, into the security forces, alongside the handover of positions in Mount Sinjar.
