In an address to his followers, Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday that the Hawija operation was an action against the Iraqi central government, and Baghdad must prevent further operations of this kind, Erbil-based Rudaw reported.
Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, a Shiite group, also made a statement on Friday October 23rd denouncing the operation and called it “a clear violation of Iraqi territorial integrity” as the central government was not informed of the mission.
The Shiite group said such moves by the US could lead to break up of Iraq.
On Thursday Kurdish Peshmerga and US forces conducted a joint rescue operation in Hawija, southern Kirkuk, allegedly freeing 69 prisoners and killing 20 ISIL militants.
Officials have confirmed that one US service member was killed during the operation and four Peshmerga injured.