Iraqi tribal council in Anbar pledges allegiance to Daesh

ANBAR, Iraq 

A tribal council from Fallujah and al-Karma declared Thursday allegiance to Daesh because of the Shia militias’ violations against Sunnis in Saladin, Diyala and Anbar provinces.

Sheik Ahmed al-Jemili, spokesman for the council that includes tribal chiefs and figures, announced in a video that the council met and took the decision to pledge allegiance to Daesh and its leader.

Al-Jemili said the measure was “a result of the violations and crimes committed by the Shia militias against Sunnis… and the constant shelling that targets most of the Sunni cities and leaves thousands dead and disabled.”

“The decision came after several deliberations and meetings between the Sheiks and figures of Fallujah and al-Karma who took a united decision to stand by the Islamic State (Daesh), considering it as the sole power that stands against the Safawi (in reference to Shias) government and its militias,” Jemili said, accusing the Iraqi government of “loyalty to Iran.”

On Monday, another tribal chief accused the Iraqi air force of killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 28 others in a barrel bomb attack on Fallujah. The casualties were confirmed by a medical source.

The spokesman stated that they are ready to fight beside Daesh against the Hashd al-Shaabi Shia militia and al-Sahawat pro-government Sunni tribal fighters’ group.

Sunni tribal fighters under the name of al-Sahawat had played a vital role in fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq, especially in 2007. 

The Shia militia al-Hashd al-Shaabi was established after a fatwa by Shia leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called for war against Daesh in June 2014.