Iraqi Forces Begin Operations to Control Kirkuk Oil Fields

Officials from the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region announced that Iraqi forces began their operations early Monday, October 16, to take control of oil fields and an important airbase around the oil-rich and disputed city of Kirkuk. This airbase and the oil fields are currently under the control of the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region. Meanwhile, Iraqi state television reported that Iraqi forces have taken control of vast areas of Kirkuk. Initial reports of this advance by Iraqi forces have been received by Radio Farda. According to Reuters, Lieutenant Colonel Salah al-Kinani from the 9th Armored Division of the Iraqi Army stated that the main objective of this advance is to control the K-1 airbase located southwest of Kirkuk. He added, "If necessary, we will also attack the city of Kirkuk." The Kurdistan Region Security Council also announced: "Iraqi forces, along with Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi, have begun a major operation advancing from a new area in southern Kirkuk, seeking to control the K-1 airbase and oil wells." Meanwhile, Kurdish sources reported the deployment of thousands of Peshmerga forces inside and around the city of Kirkuk. As of the time of this report, there have been no reports of clashes between Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. In recent days, Iraqi forces have advanced around Kirkuk, taking control of new areas and Tuz Khurmatu. Reports have also emerged of clashes between Peshmerga forces and armed Turkmen forces known as "Hashd Turkmen" in Tuz Khurmatu. These developments come amid rising tensions between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region following the independence referendum held on October 25. Despite internal, regional, and international opposition, the Kurdistan Region held the independence referendum on October 25, with the Kurdistan High Election Commission reporting that about 92% of participants voted "yes" for independence from Iraq. The Iraqi government deemed the referendum illegal and demanded that the Kurdistan Region annul the results of the referendum and recognize Iraq's territorial integrity before any negotiations. The Iraqi Parliament also called for the prosecution of Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, the return of control of disputed areas and all border crossings to government forces, the closure of foreign representations in the Kurdistan Region, and the enforcement of government sovereignty over all areas of Iraq. Disputed areas refer to regions that the Kurdistan Region seeks to annex to its territory, but the Iraqi government has not agreed to this request so far. The oil-rich province of Kirkuk is among these areas. Three years ago, following the rapid and sudden advance of the Islamic State (ISIS) and the capture of vast areas of northern Iraq, Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of many disputed areas due to the defeats of Iraqi forces. On Sunday, October 15, the Iraqi National Security Council accused the Kurdistan Region of bringing fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to the disputed oil city of Kirkuk, thereby "declaring war" against the government. Officials in the Kurdistan Region denied this claim by the Iraqi National Security Council. In this context, IRGC forces are reportedly present "near Kirkuk" to counter the Kurdish Peshmerga. The situation in Kirkuk continues with the positioning of government forces and Peshmerga following Baghdad's deadline. The U.S. Secretary of Defense called for both Iraq and the Kurds to refrain from engaging in conflict. Reports indicate the "withdrawal of Kurdistan Region forces" from some defensive lines in Kirkuk and the deployment of "thousands" of Kurdish militia in the Kirkuk area to counter the "threat" from the central government. Concerns among Iraqi Kurds regarding Baghdad's "military movements" have been raised, with Abadi stating: "We will not attack."