Iraqi Forces Launch Major Operation In The Kurdish -Held Region Of Kirkuk.
The Iran forces have captured several positions south of Kirkuk, including the North Gas Company station, a nearby processing plant and the industrial district south of the city, according to an Iraqi military statement said on Monday.
An Iraqi Kurdish commander said the fighting with Kurdish forces caused "lots of casualties".
Bahzad Ahmed, a spokesman for Kurdish forces, said the Iraqi troops have "burnt lots of houses and killed many people" in Toz Khormato and Daquq, south of the disputed city.
Iraqi forces rolled into parts of the countryside outside Kirkuk city and took control of "vast areas" without facing resistance from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iraq's state TV said.
The objective of the push early on Monday is to take control of the K1 airbase, west of Kirkuk, Lieutenant Colonel Salah el-Kinani, of the Iraqi army's 9th armoured division, told Reuters news agency.
Yet, a Kurdish security official denied that the Iraqi troops were able to get closer to the city or take territory from the Peshmerga, telling Reuters that the oil fields and the airbase were still under Kurdish control.
"They attacked Peshmerga Forces from two fronts in the Taza-Kirkuk intersection and Maryam Bag bridge, both south of Kirkuk, using US military equipment, including Abrams tanks and Humvees," the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said in a statement.
"Significant forces have also been deployed to Maktab Khalid intersection in southwest Kirkuk as part of the operation," the statement added.
The Kurdish forces said they destroyed at least five US Humvees used by Iraqi army.
Hemin Hawrami, senior assistant to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, also said on Twitter that Peshmerga forces had been ordered "not to initiate any war, but if any advancing militia starts shooting", then they had the "green light to use every power" to respond.
The Iraqi army said the operation is being spearheaded by the 9th armoured division, the federal police and counterterrorism units, Stratford reported.
"They are saying that thousands of Shia militias are very much in a supportive role," he said.
The Iran forces have captured several positions south of Kirkuk, including the North Gas Company station, a nearby processing plant and the industrial district south of the city, according to an Iraqi military statement said on Monday.
An Iraqi Kurdish commander said the fighting with Kurdish forces caused "lots of casualties".
Bahzad Ahmed, a spokesman for Kurdish forces, said the Iraqi troops have "burnt lots of houses and killed many people" in Toz Khormato and Daquq, south of the disputed city.
Iraqi forces rolled into parts of the countryside outside Kirkuk city and took control of "vast areas" without facing resistance from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iraq's state TV said.
The objective of the push early on Monday is to take control of the K1 airbase, west of Kirkuk, Lieutenant Colonel Salah el-Kinani, of the Iraqi army's 9th armoured division, told Reuters news agency.
Yet, a Kurdish security official denied that the Iraqi troops were able to get closer to the city or take territory from the Peshmerga, telling Reuters that the oil fields and the airbase were still under Kurdish control.
"They attacked Peshmerga Forces from two fronts in the Taza-Kirkuk intersection and Maryam Bag bridge, both south of Kirkuk, using US military equipment, including Abrams tanks and Humvees," the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said in a statement.
"Significant forces have also been deployed to Maktab Khalid intersection in southwest Kirkuk as part of the operation," the statement added.
The Kurdish forces said they destroyed at least five US Humvees used by Iraqi army.
Hemin Hawrami, senior assistant to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, also said on Twitter that Peshmerga forces had been ordered "not to initiate any war, but if any advancing militia starts shooting", then they had the "green light to use every power" to respond.
Iraqi state TV said that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gave orders to the security forces "to impose security in Kirkuk in cooperation with the population and the Peshmerga".Peshmerga forces attacked by Iraqi forces/PMF in #Kirkuk using US equipment, incl Abrams tanks & Humvees gifted to Iraq for the war on Isis. pic.twitter.com/Mqzw7FGofb
— KR Security Council (@KRSCPress) October 16, 2017
The Iraqi army said the operation is being spearheaded by the 9th armoured division, the federal police and counterterrorism units, Stratford reported.
"They are saying that thousands of Shia militias are very much in a supportive role," he said.
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