IRGC Forces Present Near Kirkuk to Counter Kurdish Peshmerga

The security apparatus of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a Peshmerga commander say that a number of IRGC forces are present among the Iraqi army and Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi to potentially confront the Kurdistan Region forces near Kirkuk. The tense standoff between Iraqi government forces on one side and the Kurdish Peshmerga on the other continues in Kirkuk and its surroundings. The central government of Iraq had given the Peshmerga a deadline to leave the area by early Sunday morning, October 15. Kurdish commanders have rejected the deadline set by the central government. Meanwhile, according to Kurdish television 'Rudaw' in Erbil, Shwan Shadmani, commander of the second brigade of the Peshmerga in Kirkuk, stated that Iraqi forces and Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militias are 'not alone' in a potential attack on the Kurdistan Region forces, and 'Iranian IRGC forces are also among them.' He stated, 'The Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi are not the only ones attacking us. We have 100 percent accurate information that IRGC forces are also among them.' The Peshmerga command also announced on Friday, without directly referring to the Islamic Republic or any other country, that Iraqi forces are prepared to attack the Kurdistan Region forces with 'encouragement and support from foreign forces.' In the meantime, Reuters reported, citing a Kurdistan official, that Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, has gone to Sulaymaniyah to negotiate about the escalating tensions between Kurdish forces and the central government of Iraq. No further details of this news have been released. He arrived in the city on Saturday. Meanwhile, Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, on Friday called for 'all Iraqi forces and any foreign forces' to prevent war between Erbil and Baghdad without providing details. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis has urged both sides to refrain from conflict and focus on the destruction of the group known as the Islamic State. Previously, Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, stated that he does not intend to go to war with Kurdish citizens. Nevertheless, the standoff between the two sides in Kirkuk and its surroundings has heightened concerns of a widespread conflict. A Peshmerga commander stated on Sunday to Rudaw television that an attack by Iraqi forces is imminent. Vesta Rasul, commander of the southern front in Kirkuk, announced, 'The massive presence of forces along with heavy equipment does not send a good sign or a good message. These forces have been deployed and say to themselves, not publicly, that we are going to enter the city of Kirkuk.' Ayoub Youssef, a Peshmerga general, also pointed to the advance of Iraqi forces, stating, 'They are seeking to take control of the airport, oil wells, and urban areas. In other words, they want to dominate all of Kirkuk.' He emphasized that 'we gained these areas with blood' and that more blood will be shed to defend them. Kirkuk is one of Iraq's most important oil regions. Tensions between the central government and the Kurdistan Region have intensified following the referendum on October 1. Iranian officials have strongly criticized the Kurdish Region's independence referendum, and in response to this action, Iran has closed its airspace to foreign flights to the region and halted trade of oil products with it. Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, had previously announced the imposition of sanctions against the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, October 6, that it had officially requested Turkey and Iran to close all their border crossings with the Kurdistan Region until the Iraqi government takes control of them. On the other hand, the Lebanese network al-Mayadeen reported on Sunday that Iran has closed its land borders with Iraqi Kurdistan. Iranian officials have not yet confirmed or denied this report. In further reactions from Iranian officials to the Kurdistan Region's referendum, Mohammad Hossein Rajabi, commander of the IRGC in Kurdistan, stated on Sunday, 'While we consider the actions of the leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq a new threat, we will also do everything necessary to maintain security and consider countermeasures, ensuring that our sustainable security is not compromised.' Rajabi claimed without providing evidence that there was 'widespread fraud and irregularities in the voting' during the Kurdistan Region's independence referendum. According to Tasnim news agency, this IRGC commander also accused the officials of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq of engaging in 'embezzlement' and being on a mission from Israel 'to divide Iraq.' He also stated, 'When all land and air routes of Iraq, Turkey, and Iran are closed to the Kurdistan Region, what do they want to do and what opportunities and capacities do they have?' He described the street celebrations following the Kurdistan independence referendum in some cities of Iranian Kurdistan as 'emotional' and stated that the IRGC 'played its role' in this regard. Several sites reported the arrest of more than 60 participants in street celebrations related to the independence referendum of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on October 4 and 5 in western Iranian cities.