Sununi district director told Shafaq News agency that “federal Police, Brigade 72 forces stationed in Umm Theban sector in Shingal, and other deployed on the border with Syria."

The Iraqi government announced that Baghdad had reached a “historic deal” with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the governance and security of Shingal.

The deal paves the way for the reconstruction of the city and the full return of its people in coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Shingal falls within an area disputed between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, according to Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) welcomed the deal later, saying it marked a first step in the right direction and expressed hope that it would pave the way for a better future.

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