Iraqi military denies news on Peshmerga deployment near Kirkuk
Peshmerga forces. File photo.
In a statement, the command said, “some media channels circulated false news that Peshmerga troops moved toward regions in east of Kirkuk.”
“The Joint Operations Command confirms that no change with locations of both the Peshmerga or federal troops,” it said expressing astonishment at the false news that seek misleading the public.
The command warned the media channels, which posted such news, of being trapped and said it “has the right to take legal measures through coordination with the media and telecommunications authority.”
Media channels on Sunday reported that Peshmerga troops made movements after the federal forces moved toward regions in southeast of Kirkuk.
Informed military sources said on Saturday that Peshmerga received orders to be on high alert across Kurdistan.
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.