Clashes break out between Iraqi, Kurdish troops in disputed region
Kurdish Peshmerga forces. File photo.
Iraqi army and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) accessed Fekaka village, in Qurret Tabah region, for the first time since 2014, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan media channels said.
The Kurdish troops deployed in the village, according to the reports, were engaged in clashes with Iraqi troops, however, the tensions eased later. It was revealed later that Iraqi troops arrived to arrest two suspects.
The suspects were then arrested and taken out of the village, the reports added.
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.
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 northern Kirkuk in October.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi modified his speech on Sunday, offering congratulations to the Kurdish troops of Peshmerga over victory against Islamic State.
This came after Abadi was highly was highly slammed by official authorities and figures in Kurdistan for ignoring the role of Peshmerga during anti-IS war at his speech on Saturday, when he named all of the Iraqi troops to offer congratulations without mentioning the Peshmerga.