Iraqi army makes slight advance toward Erbil: CTS source
Iraqi army forces entering Kirkuk to retake the province from Kurdish troops.
Speaking to Alghad Press on Saturday, the source from CTS said, “troops moved outside Altun Kupri toward Erbil,” adding that “the advance was made amid fierce confrontations.”
The advance, according to the source, “was made to secure Altun Kupri and urge the Peshmerga retreat toward their 2014 basic locations.”
He denied intentions to invade Erbil.
Kurdish troops were deployed in Qushtapa, a region extending along the southern borders of Erbil, however, they advanced toward Altun Kupri while the Islamic State was controlling regions in Kirkuk.
On Friday, Iraqi government forces approached the southern borders of Erbil, capital of semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, shortly after engaging in clashes with the region’s forces in Qushtapa and Altun Kupri in northern Kirkuk.
Iraqi troops, backed by PMFs, took over Kirkuk province from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters last week, fulfilling instructions made earlier by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to retake areas where sovereignty is disputed with Kurdistan Region’s Government.
Baghdad had declared intentions to retake areas disputed on with Erbil following the Kurdistan Region’s vote for independence from Iraq in September, urging Peshmerga to cooperate with federal troops.
While Erbil insisted it should be the basis of future negotiations on disputed issues, Baghdad has reiterated it would never recognize the result of the independence referendum.