The forces equipped with heavy weapons were deployed to Nawjul sub-district and the villages around Dawda area east of Tuz Khurmatu, NRT reported.

The report said the forces will prevent Hashid al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) from advancing towards the area.

It added the villagers in Dawda area and Tuz Khurmatu displaced persons settled in the area have begun evacuating the place in fear of more conflicts.

Commander of Turkmen Hashid, Raza najar, said on Wednesday that Hashid al-Shaabi alongside Iraqi forces would start an operation to clean the mountains and villages around Tuz Khurmatu from any militant group.

Iraqi warplanes shell the villages around Zinana sub-district where a group of so-called Kurdish volunteers are presence. The Kurdish volunteers say they will respond to any attack from the Iraqi forces.

The Kurdish fighters said they fired several mortar rockets at the Hanjira mountain on Wednesday, but a few rockets hit Tuz Khurmatu neighborhoods. In response to the rockets, the Iraqi warplanes shelled the villages around Zinana twice.

The U.N. on Wednesday expressed concerns about mortar attacks saying it resulted in civilian casualties at the Turkmen neighborhoods in Tuz Khurmatu.

The Mayor of Tuz Khurmatu, Shalal Abdul, said hundreds of houses, apartments and businesses were exploded, burned and looted by the armed groups in Tuz Khurmatu.

Reporter’s code: 50101