Lebanese Hizballah training Iraqi Shia militias near Mosul
The video was reportedly shot in al-Zarka, 45km south-west of Mosul [TNA]
Date of publication: 2 November, 2016
A video has emerged which appears to show Hizballah fighters showing members of an Iraqi Shia militia how to use a mortar, close to the Turkmen town of Tal Afar.
Hizballah fighters have been accused of training Iraqi Shia militia members near Mosul, with a video emerging that appears to show Lebanese trainers with members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, or Hashd al-Shaabi.
The Hizballah fighters in the video speak with Lebanese accents as they show the Iraqi pro-government militants how to fire mortars.
The footage was reportedly shot in al-Zarka, 45km south west of Mosul, where thousands of Shia militants have massed. Ten Popular Mobilisation fighters died trying to liberate the village from the Islamic State group on Monday.
According to one unnamed militant, the Hizballah fighters arrived in Iraq a few days ago to provide support to the Shia fighters.
"Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (the Secretary General of Hizballah) sent them to support us, for Syria and Iraq are all on one side," the soldier said.
An estimated 5,000 Shia fighters launched an attack on IS territory to the west of Mosul on Saturday, with the intention of cutting off supply lines to the besieged city.
Turkish President Erdogan expressed concern over the Shia militia's intention to attack and take the town of Tal Afar, as the town has a majority ethnic Turkmen population.
Erdogan said that he would consider deploying Turkish troops on Iraqi soil in order to protect the town's residents from the Shia fighters.
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