Iraqi army says PKK has to handover weapons or prepare for war in Sinjar

The Iraqi Army has warned the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) deployed in Sinjar, with the high majority of Yazidi population, to either handover their weapons or get prepared for a military confrontation with the national forces, a security source has said.

In remarks on Tuesday, sources said the Iraqi army has suggested that the PKK fighters can be part of the national forces under the name of the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS).

However, news reports indicated that the Shi'ite representative at the Iraqi Parliament is reportedly making efforts to prepare for a proposal to oust the PKK from Sinjar.

Last week, clashes broke out between the PKK-affiliated YBS fighters and the Iraqi forces. The conflict began after the Iraqi army reportedly tried to oust the Kurdish fighters from the region. Casualties were reported from both sides.