Iraq closes Kirkuk-Baghdad road amid clashes

By Hussein al-Amir

DIYALA, Iraq (AA) - Iraqi security forces closed the main road between Kirkuk and Iraqi capital Baghdad on Monday amid clashes between government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga troops in Tuz Khurmatu district in northern Iraq, a local police officer said.

“The clashes broke out when federal forces advanced on Peshmerga-held areas in Tuz Khurmatu, southeast of Kirkuk,” Capt. Habib al-Shammari told Anadolu Agency.

Earlier Monday, the Iraqi army launched an operation to capture military bases and oil fields in oil-rich Kirkuk city.

The move comes amid tension between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government after last month’s illegitimate Kurdish independence referendum.

The Sept. 25 referendum has faced strong opposition from most regional and international actors -- including the U.S., Turkey, and Iran -- who warned that the poll would distract from Iraq’s fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.

The Iraqi parliament has approved a set of measures against the Kurdish region, including the deployment of federal forces in disputed areas, including Kirkuk.