The government of Iraq announced on Twitter that the Iraqi Army has been ordered to retake land in Kirkuk province that is currently under control of Kurdistan forces:
Commander-in-Chief @HaiderAlAbadi has instructed Iraqi Army, Federal Police, CTS to secure bases & federal installations in Kirkuk province
— Government of Iraq – الحكومة العراقية (@IraqiGovt) October 15, 2017
The PM orders ISF to cooperate with Peshmerga and avoid confrontations, and to protect all civilians in the province
— Government of Iraq – الحكومة العراقية (@IraqiGovt) October 15, 2017
PM @HaiderAlAbadi reiterates the priority of the Iraqi forces to protect the people of Kirkuk and calls on citizens to cooperate with them.
— المكتب الاعلامي لرئيس الوزراء ?? (@IraqiPMO) October 16, 2017
Yes, the U.S. has armed both sides:
US policy in Iraq in two pictures;
• Iraqi humvees are moving towards Kirkuk (left)•Kurdistan humvees are waiting to defend (right) pic.twitter.com/WeBazvYMUT
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 15, 2017
More from the Guardian on why they’re fighting:
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.
This was land abandoned by Iraq in 2014 when they retreated from ISIS. From the Washington Post:
Iraq has demanded that Kurdistan allow its forces to return to positions it held before the war against Islamic State militants. Kurdish forces took control of military bases and oil fields around Kirkuk after Iraqi forces collapsed in the face of the Islamic State’s 2014 advance.
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There are early reports of clashes:
Breaking: Reports that Kurdish-populated South #Kirkuk being shelled by Iranian PMF & Iraqi forces with Kurdish forces repelling.
— Laween Atroshi (@laweenatroshi) October 16, 2017
Now Iraqi army+Iranian-backed militias attacking US-allies Kurdish #Peshmerga w/ US weapons, training, near #Kirkuk @SenSchumer @JudgeTedPoe
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) October 16, 2017
#BREAKING
Skirmish fires reported between #PMF and #Peshmerga in industrial area near Taza Khurmatu, southern #Kirkuk.— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) October 16, 2017
One peshmerga killed&one wounded in the industrial area between Taza & Kirkuk when a mortar from Shia militias landed, peshmerga sources
— Fazel Hawramy (@FazelHawramy) October 16, 2017
#breaking fire was opened on the Iraqi special ops near industrial district in kirkuk, they answered back. Seems like clashes are going on
— Steven nabil (@thestevennabil) October 15, 2017
Pray for the civilians caught in the middle:
Official source re declaration of offensive on Kurdish Citizens & armed forces in #Kirkuk – my thoughts are with all the innocent citizens. https://t.co/n4Qv6xNuOv
— Laween Atroshi (@laweenatroshi) October 16, 2017
Response from the Pentagon:
Pentagon: We are focused on fight against ISIS and call on those in the region to avoid stoking tensions among the Iraqi people #Kirkuk
— cbsMcCormick (@cbsMcCormick) October 16, 2017
#BREAKING Complete US Defense Department statement on the clashes near #Kirkuk between Baghdad and KRG. “We oppose violence from any party” pic.twitter.com/GQPeHhUl9u
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 16, 2017
Good luck with that.
Update. Iranian General Qassem Soleimani is advising the Iraqis:
Iraqi gov’t spokesperson says Qassem Soleimani ‘military advisor’ to Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraqhttps://t.co/zTx8gwLI79 pic.twitter.com/8zUu5aJIuy
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) October 15, 2017
The same Soleimani that former general David Petraeus warned about in 2015:
David Petraeus unloads on Iran in WaPost interview: Shiite militias, not ISIS are the bigger threat http://t.co/FOPC6xCFWF
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 20, 2015
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Editor’s note: This post has been updated.
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