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Iraqi Forces Sweep Into Kirkuk, Checking Kurdish Independence Drive Iraqi Forces Sweep Into Kirkuk, Checking Kurdish Independence Drive
(35 minutes later)
KIRKUK, Iraq — After weeks of threats and posturing, Iraq’s government began a military assault on Monday to blunt the independence drive by the nation’s Kurdish minority, wresting oil fields and a contested city from separatists who have been pushing to break away from Iraq. KIRKUK, Iraq — After weeks of threats and posturing, the Iraqi government began a military assault on Monday to blunt the independence drive by the nation’s Kurdish minority, wresting oil fields and a contested city from separatists pushing to break away from Iraq.
Government troops seized the vital city of Kirkuk and surrounding oil fields, ousting the Kurdish forces who had controlled the region for three years in their effort to build an independent nation in the northern third of Iraq. In clashes that pit two crucial American allies against each other, government troops seized the vital city of Kirkuk and surrounding oil fields, ousting the Kurdish forces who had controlled the region for three years in their effort to build an independent nation in the northern third of Iraq.
The Kurds voted overwhelmingly in a referendum three weeks ago for independence from Iraq. The United States, Baghdad and most countries in the region condemned the vote, fearing it would fuel ethnic divisions across the region, lead to the break up of Iraq and hobble the fight against the Islamic State.The Kurds voted overwhelmingly in a referendum three weeks ago for independence from Iraq. The United States, Baghdad and most countries in the region condemned the vote, fearing it would fuel ethnic divisions across the region, lead to the break up of Iraq and hobble the fight against the Islamic State.
Baghdad gave the Kurdish leadership an ultimatum to annul the vote or face the possibility that Iraq would take disputed areas like Kirkuk by force. Iraqi government troops and the Kurdish forces, known as pesh merga, are both essential elements of the American-led coalition battling the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Both forces are supplied and trained by the United States.
The quick advance on Monday pitted one American-trained military force against another. Iraqi government troops and the Kurdish forces, known as pesh merga, are both part of the American-led coalition battling the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. But aside from a few isolated skirmishes, Iraqi forces took the region without a fight, and few confirmed casualties, after having brokered an agreement with the Kurdish faction that controlled Kirkuk, a multiethnic city of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens.
But aside from a few isolated skirmishes, Iraqi forces took the region without a fight, and few confirmed casualties, after brokering an agreement with the Kurdish faction that controlled Kirkuk, a multiethnic city of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens.
As cheering crowds looked on, Iraqi forces removed a Kurdish flag that had flown over the Kirkuk governor’s compound and left intact an Iraqi flag mounted beside it, local officials said. They said Iraqi troops were driving through the city, removing pesh merga flags and banners and replacing them with Iraqi flags.As cheering crowds looked on, Iraqi forces removed a Kurdish flag that had flown over the Kirkuk governor’s compound and left intact an Iraqi flag mounted beside it, local officials said. They said Iraqi troops were driving through the city, removing pesh merga flags and banners and replacing them with Iraqi flags.
Local officials said Arab and Turkmen residents of Kirkuk, a city of about one million, fired weapons into the air in celebration as national forces drove through the city. Iraqi troops took over the provincial governor’s compound, the military command in Baghdad said.Local officials said Arab and Turkmen residents of Kirkuk, a city of about one million, fired weapons into the air in celebration as national forces drove through the city. Iraqi troops took over the provincial governor’s compound, the military command in Baghdad said.
Military commanders in Baghdad said their troops had taken control of an industrial district on the western edge of Kirkuk, as well as a power plant and refinery adjacent to the oil fields outside the city. The military command also said that government forces had secured control of a military airport west of the city.Military commanders in Baghdad said their troops had taken control of an industrial district on the western edge of Kirkuk, as well as a power plant and refinery adjacent to the oil fields outside the city. The military command also said that government forces had secured control of a military airport west of the city.
The operation came as divisions within the Kurdish command broke into the open on Monday, with officials from a Kurdish opposition party, the Patriotic Union or Kurdistan, saying that its fighters had agreed to make way for the advancing Iraqi forces even as other fighters loyal to the governing Kurdistan Democratic Party continued to resist.The operation came as divisions within the Kurdish command broke into the open on Monday, with officials from a Kurdish opposition party, the Patriotic Union or Kurdistan, saying that its fighters had agreed to make way for the advancing Iraqi forces even as other fighters loyal to the governing Kurdistan Democratic Party continued to resist.
The government forces moved in after pesh merga fighters for the opposition withdrew from Kirkuk under an agreement with the Iraqi military.The government forces moved in after pesh merga fighters for the opposition withdrew from Kirkuk under an agreement with the Iraqi military.
The regional Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, spearheaded the referendum and included areas of constitutionally fraught legal status, among them Kirkuk Province and its oil fields.The regional Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, spearheaded the referendum and included areas of constitutionally fraught legal status, among them Kirkuk Province and its oil fields.
Kurdish security forces loyal to Mr. Barzani’s main political rival control many strategic points in Kirkuk, and in recent days emissaries from Baghdad had worked to negotiate their withdrawal.Kurdish security forces loyal to Mr. Barzani’s main political rival control many strategic points in Kirkuk, and in recent days emissaries from Baghdad had worked to negotiate their withdrawal.
Officials in Baghdad said the provincial governor, Najmaldin O. Karim, had left Kirkuk for Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region. Mr. Karim could not be reached for comment. He was dismissed by Baghdad earlier this year, but remained in office because Kurdish fighters controlled the city.Officials in Baghdad said the provincial governor, Najmaldin O. Karim, had left Kirkuk for Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region. Mr. Karim could not be reached for comment. He was dismissed by Baghdad earlier this year, but remained in office because Kurdish fighters controlled the city.
Iraqi troops also removed a Kurdish flag from a large statue of a pesh merga fighter that Kurdish leaders had erected at the gates to the city. They raised an Iraqi flag in its place, according to local officials, in line with a statement earlier in the day from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq, ordering troops to raise the Iraqi flag in all disputed areas reclaimed by government forces.Iraqi troops also removed a Kurdish flag from a large statue of a pesh merga fighter that Kurdish leaders had erected at the gates to the city. They raised an Iraqi flag in its place, according to local officials, in line with a statement earlier in the day from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq, ordering troops to raise the Iraqi flag in all disputed areas reclaimed by government forces.
The American-led coalition has provided training, weapons, airstrikes and artillery to the Iraqi military as well as pesh merga fighters. It has not provided assistance to or coordinated with Shiite militias who also have been fighting ISIS, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the coalition in Baghdad said last week.The American-led coalition has provided training, weapons, airstrikes and artillery to the Iraqi military as well as pesh merga fighters. It has not provided assistance to or coordinated with Shiite militias who also have been fighting ISIS, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the coalition in Baghdad said last week.
In Erbil, the pesh merga general command said in a statement that Shiite militias had taken part in operations in Kirkuk Province, calling it “a flagrant declaration of war against the nation of Kurdistan.” The military command in Baghdad said there was an understanding that the Shiite militias would not enter Kirkuk.In Erbil, the pesh merga general command said in a statement that Shiite militias had taken part in operations in Kirkuk Province, calling it “a flagrant declaration of war against the nation of Kurdistan.” The military command in Baghdad said there was an understanding that the Shiite militias would not enter Kirkuk.
The government forces that entered the city on Monday afternoon included the counterterrorism service, which has worked closely with coalition forces. The national paramilitary police and the Interior Ministry’s rapid response forces also took up positions inside Kirkuk, the military command said.The government forces that entered the city on Monday afternoon included the counterterrorism service, which has worked closely with coalition forces. The national paramilitary police and the Interior Ministry’s rapid response forces also took up positions inside Kirkuk, the military command said.
In a statement Monday afternoon, the American-led coalition said the movements of government military vehicles were “coordinated movements, not attacks.”In a statement Monday afternoon, the American-led coalition said the movements of government military vehicles were “coordinated movements, not attacks.”
The statement said clashes early Monday were precipitated by “a misunderstanding” and were “not deliberate as two elements tried to link up under limited visibility conditions” at night.The statement said clashes early Monday were precipitated by “a misunderstanding” and were “not deliberate as two elements tried to link up under limited visibility conditions” at night.
The coalition is not supporting either side in the Kirkuk conflict, the coalition statement added. Colonel Dillon said all American troops in the area were safe.The coalition is not supporting either side in the Kirkuk conflict, the coalition statement added. Colonel Dillon said all American troops in the area were safe.
Iraqi military commanders said fighting broke out early Monday between advancing government forces and pesh merga fighters from Mr. Barzani’s faction, just as the P.U.K. forces were handing over their positions. The commanders spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.Iraqi military commanders said fighting broke out early Monday between advancing government forces and pesh merga fighters from Mr. Barzani’s faction, just as the P.U.K. forces were handing over their positions. The commanders spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.
Wista Raool, commander of P.U.K. pesh merga forces south of Kirkuk, said the party sought to return the oil fields to the federal government.Wista Raool, commander of P.U.K. pesh merga forces south of Kirkuk, said the party sought to return the oil fields to the federal government.
Mr. Raool accused Mr. Barzani and his party of “stealing” the oil from the Iraqi government. Many members of the P.U.K., which maintains its own pesh merga force, opposed the referendum vote because it had been led by Mr. Barzani.Mr. Raool accused Mr. Barzani and his party of “stealing” the oil from the Iraqi government. Many members of the P.U.K., which maintains its own pesh merga force, opposed the referendum vote because it had been led by Mr. Barzani.
Northwest of the city, near oil fields that Kurds have controlled since 2014, pesh merga fighters from the K.D.P. remained dug into positions Monday near the city of Dibis.Northwest of the city, near oil fields that Kurds have controlled since 2014, pesh merga fighters from the K.D.P. remained dug into positions Monday near the city of Dibis.
The commander of forces there, Kamal Karkokly, said in an interview at his command post Sunday that his fighters would not surrender their positions.The commander of forces there, Kamal Karkokly, said in an interview at his command post Sunday that his fighters would not surrender their positions.
“We have enough weapons,” Mr. Karkokly said. “We can fight as long as we have to.”“We have enough weapons,” Mr. Karkokly said. “We can fight as long as we have to.”