Iraq says in full control of Kirkuk oil fields

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD (AA) – All oil fields and facilities in Kirkuk province are now under the full control of Iraq’s Oil Ministry, a ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

“The ministry now holds also oil wells and facilities in Kirkuk,” Asim Cihad told Anadolu Agency.

On Monday, Iraqi forces captured Kirkuk, three weeks after the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) held a referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region.

Oil-rich Kirkuk is claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil.

In 2014, Kurdish forces took control of much of the province when the Daesh terrorist group swept through northern Iraq and the army collapsed.