Iraq: Government forces recapture North Oil Company from Kurds
- 7 years ago
Iraqi government forces moved into the premises of the state-owned North Oil Company in the northwest of Kirkuk, after recapturing a nearby K1 airbase, reportedly without engaging in combat with Kurdish forces, Monday.
State TV reported on Monday that Iraqi forces had taken control of some Kurdish areas, including oil fields, but this has been denied by Kurdish forces.
Tensions between the two sides have been brewing since Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted for secession in a September 25 referendum that Baghdad rejected as illegal.
Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of oil-rich Kirkuk after the Iraqi army fled a major offensive by the Islamic State in 2014.
State TV reported on Monday that Iraqi forces had taken control of some Kurdish areas, including oil fields, but this has been denied by Kurdish forces.
Tensions between the two sides have been brewing since Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted for secession in a September 25 referendum that Baghdad rejected as illegal.
Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of oil-rich Kirkuk after the Iraqi army fled a major offensive by the Islamic State in 2014.