This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-41693143
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kirkuk province: Iraqi and Kurdish forces in fierce fight | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There have been fierce clashes between Kurdish and Iraqi troops north of Kirkuk city, days after the Iraqi army took control of disputed areas. | There have been fierce clashes between Kurdish and Iraqi troops north of Kirkuk city, days after the Iraqi army took control of disputed areas. |
| A BBC correspondent at the scene said there had been rocket, artillery and machine-gun fire in Alton Kupri. | A BBC correspondent at the scene said there had been rocket, artillery and machine-gun fire in Alton Kupri. |
| The district is the last area in Kirkuk province still held by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. | The district is the last area in Kirkuk province still held by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. |
| Iraqi forces have this week taken over swathes of territory which had been held by the Kurds since 2014. | Iraqi forces have this week taken over swathes of territory which had been held by the Kurds since 2014. |
| Army and allied militia launched an operation which saw Kurdish forces pushed back into the officially recognised autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). | Army and allied militia launched an operation which saw Kurdish forces pushed back into the officially recognised autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). |
| The oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which includes ethnically mixed Kirkuk city, is claimed by both the central government in Baghdad and the KRI. | |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered military action after the Kurdish government held a referendum which overwhelmingly backed independence. Mr Abadi had declared the vote illegitimate. | Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered military action after the Kurdish government held a referendum which overwhelmingly backed independence. Mr Abadi had declared the vote illegitimate. |
| An Iraqi military spokesman said counter-terrorism and federal police forces, as well as Iranian-backed militia, advanced on Alton Kupri at 07:30 (04:30 GMT). | An Iraqi military spokesman said counter-terrorism and federal police forces, as well as Iranian-backed militia, advanced on Alton Kupri at 07:30 (04:30 GMT). |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin, who was at a checkpoint in the area, said there was a "major outbreak of fighting" with large numbers of military vehicles and soldiers heading to the scene. | The BBC's Richard Galpin, who was at a checkpoint in the area, said there was a "major outbreak of fighting" with large numbers of military vehicles and soldiers heading to the scene. |
| The Iraqi army's media department, the War Media Cell, said it had taken control of Alton Kupri (known as Perde in Kurdish), though this has not been confirmed. | The Iraqi army's media department, the War Media Cell, said it had taken control of Alton Kupri (known as Perde in Kurdish), though this has not been confirmed. |
| The town lies on the northern edge of Kirkuk province, about 30 miles (50 km) south of the Kurdish capital, Irbil. | |
| The latest action comes a day after an Iraqi court ordered the arrest of Kurdistan's vice-president for calling troops sent to Kirkuk this week "occupying forces". | |
| Peshmerga forces had controlled much of the province since 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the army collapsed. |