Security in Kirkuk ‘better than ever’: Iraqi official

By Ali Mukarrem Garip

KIRKUK, Iraq (AA) - Security in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province has been fully restored, a local security source said Monday.

Army Major-General Maan al-Saadi, head of the army’s counter-terrorism agency, told reporters at a press conference that the security situation in Kirkuk was now “better than ever”.

“We have established full control over Kirkuk city and have dramatically reduced the number of kidnappings, robberies and armed attacks,” he said.

According to al-Saadi, security in Kirkuk’s city center is being provided by Iraqi police while the rest of the city has been secured by Iraqi army personnel.

He went on to stress that there was currently “no U.S. military presence” inside the city.

Following the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)’s illegitimate Sept. 25 referendum on regional independence, Iraqi forces moved into several parts of the country “disputed” between Baghdad and the KRG, including oil-rich Kirkuk.