This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/iraqi-army-advances-kirkuk-kurds

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Iraqi forces clash with Kurds in operation to 'impose security' on Kirkuk Iraqi forces clash with Kurds in operation to 'impose security' on Kirkuk
(35 minutes later)
Iraqi forces have reportedly advanced on Kirkuk’s oil fields and air base after the prime minister of Iraq, Haidar al-Abadi, ordered his army to “impose security” on the Kurdish city in the wake of a recent vote for independence. Iraqi forces have reportedly advanced on Kirkuk’s oilfields and an airbase after the prime minister, Haidar al-Abadi, ordered his army to “impose security” on the Kurdish city after a recent vote for independence.
Kurdish and Iraqi officials both reported that forces began moving at midnight on Sunday, with state TV reporting “vast areas” of the region had been seized, a claim disputed by the Kurds. Kurdish and Iraqi officials both reported that forces began moving at midnight on Sunday, with state TV reporting that “vast areas” of the region had been seized, a claim disputed by the Kurds.
However, military sources on both sides reported exchanges of Katyusha rocket fire to the south of the provincial capital. Multiple Kurdish peshmerga fighters were injured in the clashes, a local security source told Agence France-Presse. Military sources on both sides reported exchanges of Katyusha rocket fire to the south of the provincial capital. Multiple Kurdish peshmerga fighters were injured in the clashes, a local security source told Agence France-Presse.
The governor of Kirkuk, Najmaldin Karim, urged the public to come out onto the streets and voiced his confidence that Peshmerga forces would be able to protect the city. “We saw some of the young people who expressed their readiness to help their Peshmerga brothers to defend the land,” he told Rudaw, a Kurdish media network. The governor of Kirkuk, Najmaldin Karim, urged the public to come out on to the streets and said he was confident Peshmerga forces would protect the city.
The US defense department urged Iraqi and Kurdish forces “to avoid additional escalatory actions” that would detract from the battle against Islamic State militants. The US provided weapons to both the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga to fight Isis. “We saw some of the young people who expressed their readiness to help their peshmerga brothers to defend the land,” he told Rudaw, a Kurdish media network.
Later on Sunday, the US state department said it was “very concerned” about reports of a confrontation and was “monitoring the situation in Kirkuk closely”. The US Department of Defense urged Iraqi and Kurdish forces “to avoid additional escalatory actions” that would detract from the battle against Islamic State. The US provided weapons to both the Iraqi army and the peshmerga to fight Isis.
Later on Sunday, the US State Department said it was concerned about reports of a confrontation and was monitoring the situation in Kirkuk closely.
World oil prices jumped on Monday amid reports of the clashes.World oil prices jumped on Monday amid reports of the clashes.
Kurdish president Masoud Barzani, has ordered his forces not to initiate a conflict but to respond if attacked, Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to the president, was quoted as saying. The Kurdish president, Masoud Barzani, has ordered his forces not to initiate a conflict but to respond if attacked, Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to the president, was quoted as saying.
Al-Iraqiya TV said Iraqi military, anti-terrorist units and federal police had taken control of some areas around the city, advancing without firing a shot. The objective was to take control of the K1 airbase, west of Kirkuk, Lieutenant Colonel Salah el-Kinani of the Iraqi army’s 9th armoured division said. Al-Iraqiya TV said Iraqi troops, anti-terrorist units and federal police had taken control of some areas around the city, having advanced without firing a shot. The objective was to take control of the K1 airbase, west of Kirkuk, Lt Col Salah el-Kinani, of the Iraqi army’s 9th armoured division, said.
A photographer with Agence France-Presse reported seeing columns of Iraqi troops heading north from the town of Taza Khurmatu, which lies south of Kirkuk. A photographer with Agence France-Presse reported seeing columns of Iraqi troops heading north from the town of Taza Khurmatu towards Kirkuk.
Tensions in the area began rising several weeks ago, when the country’s Kurds voted for independence from Baghdad. The referendum was bitterly opposed by Iran, Baghdad and Turkey and has since led to a blockade of the region by all three powers.
Iranian general Qasem Suleimani, one of the most powerful figures in Iraq, had told Kurdish leaders ahead of the poll that he would not stop Shia forces from the Popular Mobilisation Front from attacking Kirkuk if the ballot went ahead.
Baghdad had not accepted the Kurdish claim on the city, which is comprised of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, and had been bitterly opposed to Kurdish officials selling oil from the Kirkuk fields through a pipeline to Turkey.
The US, which is an ally of both Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government seat of power, Erbil, had been implacably opposed to the ballot, especially the decision to include Kirkuk and other disputed areas – a move that officials described as “dangerous unilateralism”, which attempted to redraw the country’s boundaries.
#BREAKING: The governor of Kirkuk Najmaldin Karim urges the people of the city to come out on the streets to protect themselves from Hashd. pic.twitter.com/62ejDc9Npo#BREAKING: The governor of Kirkuk Najmaldin Karim urges the people of the city to come out on the streets to protect themselves from Hashd. pic.twitter.com/62ejDc9Npo
On Friday, Kurdish and Iraqi government rushed troops and armour to the city. Peshmerga forces massed about 20 miles from Kirkuk’s southern limits after units loyal to the central government took positions on the city’s approaches, prompting fears of fresh violence in one of the most bitterly contested corners of Iraq. Tensions in the area began rising several weeks ago, when the country’s Kurds voted for independence from Baghdad. The referendum was strongly opposed by Iran, Baghdad and Turkey and has since led to a blockade of the region by all three powers.
At the time, the likelihood of an imminent battle for the ethnically diverse city had dissipated, with political leaders on both sides trying to calm nerves. Al-Abadi, who is commander-in-chief of the country’s military, insisted he had no plans to launch an attack. The Iranian general Qasem Suleimani, one of the most powerful figures in Iraq, had told Kurdish leaders before the poll that he would not stop Shia forces from the Popular Mobilisation Front from attacking Kirkuk if the ballot went ahead.
Following Sunday’s reported advance, the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) security council said: “Iraqi forces and Popular Mobilisation [a paramilitary group] are now advancing from Taza, south of Kirkuk, in a major operation; their intention is to enter the city and take over K1 base and oil fields.” Baghdad had not accepted the Kurdish claim on the city, which is comprised of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, and had been bitterly opposed to Kurdish officials selling oil from the Kirkuk fields through a pipeline to Turkey.
A commander of the local Kurdish police force said Kurds remained in control of Kirkuk province’s oil wells. The US – an ally of both Baghdad and Erbil, which is the Kurdish regional government’s (KRG) seat of power – had opposed the ballot, especially the decision to include Kirkuk and other disputed areas, a move that officials described as “dangerous unilateralism” which attempted to redraw the country’s boundaries.
On Friday, the Kurdish and Iraqi governments rushed troops and armour to the city. Peshmerga forces massed about 20 miles from Kirkuk’s southern limits after units loyal to the central government took positions on the city’s approaches.
At the time, the likelihood of a battle for the ethnically diverse city had dissipated, with political leaders on both sides trying to calm nerves. Abadi, who is commander-in-chief of the country’s military, insisted he had no plans to launch an attack.
Following Sunday’s reported advance, the KRG security council said: “Iraqi forces and Popular Mobilisation [a paramilitary group] are now advancing from Taza, south of Kirkuk, in a major operation; their intention is to enter the city and take over K1 base and oilfields.”
A commander of the Kurdish police force said Kurds remained in control of Kirkuk province’s oil wells.
Kurdish fighters seized Kirkuk in mid-2014, after Iraqi forces had fled from the Islamic State extremists advancing towards them after sacking Mosul.Kurdish fighters seized Kirkuk in mid-2014, after Iraqi forces had fled from the Islamic State extremists advancing towards them after sacking Mosul.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportReuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report