Tensions escalate as Iraqi forces near the city of Kirkuk
IRAQ - Iraqi forces are advancing on the Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk, with Iraq’s Prime Minister calling on residents in the oil-rich city to cooperate with its security forces.
Early yesterday, Iraqi troops claimed to have taken control of several areas including the North Gas Company and the Kirkuk power station, according to a statement from the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.
The Kurdistan Regional Security Council (KRSC) issued its own statement saying Iraqi forces and the Iranianbacked Shiite militias, known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), advanced from Taza Khormatu in Kirkuk, just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of the city. The council said Kurdish fighters known as the Peshmerga were attacked using “US military equipment, including Abrams tanks and Humvees.” It added the Peshmerga had destroyed a number of those Humvees. A spokesman for the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Services said forces have not engaged in a direct confrontation with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, and had no plans to deploy in the city center.
The US-led coalition against ISIS (Operation Inherent Resolve) says it’s closely monitoring the situation and is urging all sides to “avoid escalatory actions.” Earlier, the Pentagon echoed this stance. Both the Iraqi military and the Kurdish Peshmerga have been trained, funded and equipped by the US for their participation in the coalition fighting ISIS.
The Kurdish regional security council tweeted on Sunday that Iraqi forces and the PMU were intending to take over a military base and major oil fields. The province has one of the biggest oil fields in the country, more than 6% of the world’s oil comes from the Kirkuk region. (CNN.COM/ Photo: RFE/RL)