The Iraqi military has been deployed to “impose security” in the resource-rich province of Kirkuk. Iraqi troops have seized control over several key Kurdish Peshmerga-held positions near Kirkuk and continue their advance, Reuters reports, citing the Iraqi military.
16 October 2017
Washington is "not taking sides" in the ongoing confrontation between the Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, President Donald Trump said Monday.
"We've had for many years a very good relationship with the Kurds as you know, and we've also been on the side of Iraq, even though we should have never been there in the first place," Reuters quoted the US leader as telling the media at the White House.
"We're not taking sides in that battle," he said, adding, however: "We don't like the fact that they're clashing."
Republican US Senator John McCain condemned Iraq’s “misuse” of US-made weaponry against the Kurds, warning Baghdad of “severe consequences” if it continues.
“The United States provided equipment and training to the government of Iraq to fight [Islamic State] and secure itself from external threats – not to attack elements of one of its own regional governments, which is a longstanding and valuable partner of the United States,” McCain said.
Hundreds of people in Kirkuk took to the streets to celebrate the takeover of the city by Iraqi government forces. A video posted on social media shows a group of people with Iraqi flags greeting government troops in front of the city’s governorate building.
Another video from the scene shows the Iraqi Army dismantling billboards left behind by the Peshmerga, while onlookers cheer.
The majority of demonstrators are reportedly of Arab or Turkmen origin, while thousands of ethnic Kurds fled the city alongside the Peshmerga forces. Some ethnic Kurds, however, also appear to be welcoming the government troops.
Kirkuk police have imposed an overnight curfew on the city, prohibiting the movement of people and vehicles until 7am on Tuesday, Al-Sumaria TV channel reported. The police urged the people who fled the city amid the takeover by the Iraqi government army to return to their homes, stating that the security situation remains “stable.”
The police statement echoed the call voiced by the interim governor of Kirkuk, Rakan Jubouri, who urged locals to return to their homes.
US-led coalition forces are near Kirkuk but were not present when Iraqi government troops exchanged fire with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, the Pentagon said. The US servicemen are not “threatened or in any kind of danger,” the Pentagon stated, as cited by Reuters. The US Department of Defense urged the Iraqi Kurdish forces and central government to engage in dialogue and avoid confrontation, while expressing support for a unified Iraq.
The dispute between the Kurds and Iraqi government does not hamper the US-led coalition’s ability to fight Islamic State in Syria, the Pentagon stressed.
Turkey’s Cabinet has halted flights to the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters following a weekly meeting of the government. Ankara has also decided to begin procedures to return control over the main border crossing into Iraqi Kurdistan to the central Iraqi authorities.
The US Embassy in Baghdad has issued a warning to its citizens over the ongoing “Kirkuk security operations” urging them to “maintain a heightened sense of security awareness and take appropriate measures to enhance their personal security” while working and living in Iraq.
“US Mission Iraq advises its citizens that the Government of Iraq launched security operations in the vicinity of Kirkuk City. US citizens located in these areas who are unable or unwilling to depart are advised to shelter in place,” the warning reads.
Kurdish authorities are considering whether to shut down oil production at the Kirkuk fields, Iraq’s North Oil Company spokesman has told Reuters, adding that the state company had asked central government to intervene in order to keep the crude flowing.
“The oil ministry warned the Kurdish authorities not to attempt any action that would cause crude oil flow disruption from Kirkuk oilfield,” the spokesman said.
“We are coordinating with the central government and oil ministry to ask security forces to intervene and prevent Kurdish crews from mismanaging production operations at the Kirkuk oilfield.”
The US-led anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) coalition claimed that the maneuvers “of military vehicles and personnel” in the vicinity of Kirkuk “so far have been coordinated movements, not attacks,” while the clashes between Peshmerga and Iraqi government forces were a mere “misunderstanding.”
“Coalition forces and advisers are not supporting Government of Iraq or Kurdistan Regional Government activities near Kirkuk, but are aware of reports of a limited exchange of fire during predawn hours of darkness October 16. We believe the engagement this morning was a misunderstanding and not deliberate as two elements attempted to link up under limited visibility conditions,” the coalition said in a statement.
The Kurdish Peshmerga condemned the Iraqi takeover of Kirkuk as a “flagrant declaration of war,” Rudaw news agency reports, citing a statement by the Peshmerga General Command. Kurdish forces warned the Iraqi prime minister he would pay a “heavy price” for initiating the conflict.
Rudaw has published a video showing its journalist helping two people reportedly injured in clashes in Kirkuk.
Ankara is ready to cooperate with Iraqi authorities to eliminate the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the country, according to a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The Ministry also said that Turkey supports Iraq’s territorial integrity and stands for “lasting peace and stability.”
Iraqi forces have seized Kirkuk airport from Kurdish fighters, Reuters reports, citing a statement from the Iraqi military.
The Peshmerga has sent reinforcement troops to Kirkuk to launch a counterattack against the Iraqi forces and allied militia, according to Brigadier General Halgurd Hikmat, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Peshmerga, Rudaw reports.
The spokesman added that Kurdistan will not accept “aggressions” from the Iraqi Army and its allies.
Iraqi forces have gained control from Kurdish forces over the North Oil Company headquarters, northwest of Kirkuk, the country’s oil officials say, according to Reuters.
Iraqi troops have captured Kirkuk’s K-1 Air Base from Kurdish fighters, according to a military statement cited by Reuters.
Civilians blocked roads inside Kirkuk to prevent Peshmerga military vehicles from retreating, according to Rudaw.
Iraqi troops have captured several key Kurdish Peshmerga-controlled positions near Kirkuk, including roads and infrastructure as well as the North Gas Company station, a nearby oil processing plant, and the industrial district south of the city.
The People’s Mobilization Forces (PMF), which support the Iraqi Army, have entered Kurdish neighborhoods of Tuz Khurmatu, 55 miles south of Kirkuk, Rudaw reports, citing Kurdish security official Colonel Kawa Mala Parwez.
“We are defending. But unfortunately, some Peshmerga forces have retreated. This has made it possible for the Hashd al-Shaabi [The People’s Mobilization Forces] forces to enter Kurdish neighborhoods of Tuz Khurmatu,” he said.
Kurdistan’s Vice-President Kosrat Rasul said in a statement that Kurds have the right to self-defense.
“It is unfortunate that the Iraqi forces and the Hashd al-Shaabi intend to attack Kirkuk. We want to reassure everyone that we and the brave Peshmerga are in Kirkuk and will defend it. Though we do not want to initiate war, we will defend ourselves with high morale and will not allow Kirkuk be attacked. We demand the brave and strong people of Kirkuk to help the police and security forces inside the city to better protect the situation in the city.”
Commander-in-chief of all Kurdish armed forces, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, has given “green light to use every power” to his forces to fight back if attacked by the advancing government units, Rudaw news quoted Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to Barzani as saying.
A Kurdish official told Rudaw news that Peshmerga units managed to destroy four Iraqi government military vehicles and were able to repel the government’s troops advance twice since the fighting began in Taza Khurmatu, some 75km south of Kirkuk.
The US Department of Defense urged “all sides to avoid additional escalatory actions.”
Clashes have reportedly taken place between the government led troops and Kurdish fighters around Kirkuk.
Reuters reports that gunfire was heard in Kirkuk as the Peshmerga continues to urge the locals to resist. Kurdish sources meanwhile told the agency that clashes happened in the industrial zone of Kirkuk, while an artillery exchange took place south of the city.
Media reports indicate that Peshmerga units voluntarily left Bashir and Taza, but remained at Kirkuk airport and K-1 military base, which the primary targets for Baghdad.
Additional 3,000 Peshmerga fighters have been deployed to the city of Kirkuk after the central government announced its military operation in the region. According to Rudaw news, the city now has 9,000 Kurdish fighters.
Iraq State television is reporting that the government led forces have captured “vast amount” of Kurdish-held territory without any resistance from Kurdish fighters.
The Kurdistan Security Council stated that Baghdad is trying to secure the K-1 military base, the Kirkuk airport and the oilfields which are under the control of the Kurdish fighters.
Iraqi government troops and the People's Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-loyal umbrella organization composed of some 40 militias, were ordered to “impose security in Kirkuk in cooperation with Kurdish Peshmerga,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on live television.
The army was tasked with taking control of bases and federal installations in Kirkuk province, while being advised “to cooperate with Peshmerga and avoid confrontations, and to protect all civilians.”