Baghdad amassing troops near Iraq's Kurd region: Erbil

By Serhad Shaker

BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraqi forces have continued to amass near northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)’s Ministry for Peshmerga Affairs said Tuesday.

In a statement, the ministry said Iraqi troops were “not providing any room in which lines of contact might be established” with Peshmerga forces deployed in the region.

The ministry went on to vow that its forces would “defend” the Kurdish region against any troop incursions.

Tension has steadily mounted between Baghdad and the Erbil-based KRG since the latter’s illegitimate Sept. 25 referendum on Kurdish regional independence.

Last week, Iraqi government forces moved into several parts of the country disputed between Baghdad and Erbil, including the oil-rich Kirkuk province.