Kirkuk; Continued Standoff Between Government Forces and Peshmerga Following Baghdad's Deadline

According to reports, the tense standoff between Iraqi government forces on one side and the Kurdish Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region on the other continues in Kirkuk and its surroundings. The central government of Iraq had given the Kurdish Peshmerga a deadline to leave the area by early Sunday morning, October 15. Kurdish commanders have rejected the deadline set by the central government. The city of Kirkuk is one of the most important oil regions in Iraq. Tensions between the central government and the Kurdistan Region have intensified following the referendum in October. James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has urged both sides to avoid conflict and focus on the defeat of the group known as the Islamic State. Both government forces and the Kurdistan Region are considered U.S. allies in the battles against ISIS, and military advisors sent by Washington are present among both sides. The Iraqi army and pro-government militias are stationed around Kirkuk with heavy weaponry, while the Kurdistan Region has also deployed thousands of fresh troops inside the city and its surroundings. Areas near Kirkuk were among those captured by ISIS during their peak advances, but the Kurdish Peshmerga effectively took control of the city. A reporter from Agence France-Presse has reported seeing armored vehicles bearing the Iraqi flag stationed around a river near Kirkuk, with Peshmerga also entrenched behind earthen berms and concrete blocks. One Peshmerga commander stated that they have taken all necessary precautions and are prepared to respond to "provocations." An Iraqi army officer also told AFP that government forces have not yet taken any action and are awaiting orders from the army's general staff. 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 parties in Kirkuk and its surroundings has heightened concerns about a widespread conflict. Simultaneously, James Mattis stated to reporters on Saturday, "Everyone must focus on defeating ISIS. We cannot face each other right now." The holding of the referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, despite the opposition of the central government, its neighbors, the UN Secretary-General, and the United States, has created new tensions in the country. The central government and the Kurdistan Region have warned each other, and there have also been severe verbal exchanges between them. The referendum took place in three provinces of the Kurdistan Region and simultaneously in neighboring provinces, including Kirkuk. Baghdad has rejected any negotiations or actions to expand the territory of the region until the referendum results are declared null and void. In this context, the U.S. Secretary of Defense has called for Iraq and the Kurds to refrain from conflict with each other. The "last" battle of U.S.-backed forces to retake Raqqa is ongoing.