Kurdistan Region: Agreement Between Iraqi Forces and Peshmerga for Ceasefire

The government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced on Friday that Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga have reached an agreement to stop the fighting in northern Iraq. The specific details of this ceasefire have not yet been clarified, but a spokesperson for the U.S.-led international coalition previously stated that if finalized, this agreement would include all fronts of battle. Contrary to the statements of Kurdistan Region officials, a spokesperson mentioned in an interview with Reuters that negotiations are still ongoing and no definitive agreement has been reached. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Region government in Erbil claims that the ceasefire has been implemented since 1 AM on Friday. Vahal Ali, the spokesperson for Masoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Region, told Reuters, "The ceasefire has been implemented and is ongoing. Diplomatic efforts are underway to set a date for negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil." In this context, the central government of Iraq announced that Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, called Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to request the initiation of formal negotiations. Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraqi central government forces, and Shiite militias have fought side by side against the Islamic State group, but with the defeat of this group in Iraq, the previous alliance has now collapsed. In response to the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan held on September 24, Iraqi central government forces and Hashd al-Shaabi militias launched a military offensive towards Kurdish-controlled areas. The goal of this operation is to seize disputed areas between the central government and the Kurdistan Region, as well as border crossings and oil fields and facilities. The city of Kirkuk, located in oil-rich areas, was captured by central government forces without any effective resistance, but Kurdish Peshmerga have begun to resist while retreating towards the official territory of the Kurdistan Region. The fiercest clashes have occurred in northwestern Iraq. Kurdish Peshmerga are trying to maintain their control over border crossings with Turkey and Syria and one of the main oil transfer facilities from Kurdistan through Turkey. Reuters adds that Rex Tillerson expressed regret on Thursday in Geneva over the lack of agreement between the two sides on a peaceful solution and urged the Iraqi Prime Minister to accept the change in the Kurdistan Region's position and the willingness to negotiate from the Kurds. Haider al-Abadi stated on Thursday that before any negotiations with Kurdistan Region officials, they must annul the results of the independence referendum. In a statement made during his trip to Iran, he said, "We accept nothing other than the annulment of the referendum results and respect for the constitution."