Kurdish forces withdraw from edges of disputed Iraqi region
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IRBIL - Kurdish forces have withdrawn from the edges of a disputed region in northern Iraq, a commander said Friday, amid tensions with Iraq's central government over the administration of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Lt. Gen Wasta Rasul said Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga evacuated positions southwest of city, while an officer in the Iraqi Army's 9th Armored Division said federal forces had moved into positions left by the Kurdish forces in the same area, near the village of Bashir.
Iraqi federal forces shared photos of themselves standing in front of barriers painted with the Kurdish flag on social media. They said the photos were taken "inside Kirkuk," which is also the name of the surrounding province.
Iraq's military command rushed to issue a statement denying media reports it had commenced operations to retake the city.
