Iraqi Army Threatens Military Action Against Kurdistan Region

On Wednesday, November 1, the Iraqi army warned the autonomous Kurdistan Region that it would take military action against the region if it delays the handover of border areas with Iran, Turkey, and Syria. According to Reuters, the Joint Operations Command of Iraq accused the Kurdistan Region of using negotiations as a tool to 'buy time' to strengthen the positions of Peshmerga forces along the front lines. The statement noted that during negotiations, the Kurdistan Region is relocating its forces and establishing new defensive lines. The Joint Operations Command emphasized that it will not allow this. Federal forces are obligated to ensure the security of disputed areas as well as border regions. Following the independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi initially ordered economic sanctions against the region and then ordered military forces to seize disputed areas. Iraqi forces were able to quickly capture Kirkuk and parts of the disputed territories. Haider al-Abadi stated that the aim of the ceasefire was for Iraqi forces to be deployed without issues in the disputed areas and border regions. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Region announced on Tuesday that it would allow central government forces to 'monitor' the borders, but the region's forces must maintain control over the border crossing into the region. Peshmerga forces accuse Iraqi forces of wanting to resolve 'internal political disputes' by threatening military action. The entire border between Iraq and Turkey lies within the Kurdistan Region, and this border line has been under Kurdish control even before the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Reuters reports that Iraqi forces have been stationed in the border area of Khabor between the Iraqi city of Zakho and the Turkish city of Silopi, and now to cross the border at this point, one must pass through the Kurdistan Region's checkpoint, the central government's checkpoint, and the Turkish border guards' checkpoint. Control of the borders is vital for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as it would hold the main artery for oil exports to Turkey. Over the past two weeks, sporadic clashes have also occurred between the Kurdistan Region forces and the central government of Iraq. Meanwhile, Haider al-Abadi again called on the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday to hand over all border crossings to central government forces. Haider al-Abadi emphasized that a committee will oversee the redeployment of federal forces in areas that have been under the control of the Kurdistan Region since 2003.