Battle of Kirkuk (2017) explained

Conflict:Battle of Kirkuk (2017)
Partof:the 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
Date:15–20 October 2017
Place:Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq
Territory:Iraqi government forces defeat the Peshmerga and retake control of the entire Kirkuk Governorate, including the city of Kirkuk, Kirkuk Air Base, and Kirkuk Airport by 20 October[1] [2]
Result:Decisive Iraqi government victory[3] [4]
Combatant1: Iraq
Combatant2:
Kurdistan Workers' Party[5] [6] (denied by KRG)[7]
White Flags (alleged)[8] [9]
Commander1: Haider al-Abadi

Maj. Gen. Fadhil al-Barwari
Commander2: Masoud Barzani
Hiwa Chor
Units1: Iraqi Army

Iraqi Turkmen Front[11]

Units2: Peshmerga
People's Defence Forces
Strength1:3,000 soldiers200–300 armoured vehicles
Strength2:9,000 Peshmerga forces
Casualties1:7 dead [12] 150 killed or wounded and one tanks destroyed
[13]
Casualties2:25 killed, 45 wounded [14]
105 killed
200 wounded
45 captured
[15]

The Battle of Kirkuk (2017), part of the 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, was a military deployment by the Iraqi Security Forces to retake Kirkuk Governorate from the Peshmerga after the latter ignored repeated warnings to withdraw,[16] sparking clashes between the two forces.[17] The advance began on 15October 2017, with the city of Kirkuk being retaken the following day. Iraqi central government forces continued their advances in subsequent days, routing the Peshmerga forces across vast swathes of territory in northern Iraq.[18]

Background

The battle followed the 2017 Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum when voters overwhelmingly supported (93%) "the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Region" to become an independent state. The Kurdistan Region considered the referendum binding, while the Iraqi government regarded it as illegal. The oil-rich and multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk was the subject of long-running dispute and is not recognised by the Iraqi government as part of the autonomous Kurdistan Region. Before the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) invaded Kirkuk was under Iraqi control. Kirkuk was taken from ISIL by Kurdish forces. The Kurdish Peshmerga ignored a deadline given by Iraq to withdraw from the area by 15October 2017[19] and the operation to take the territory back under the control of the central Iraqi government was initiated. Within 15 hours, the city of Kirkuk, surrounding oil fields and several facilities including the military airport were retaken by Iraqi forces.

The battle

The Kurdish Peshmerga ignored a deadline given by the Iraqi government to withdraw from disputed areas by 15October 2017. This led to the Iraqi forces and the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF) retaking Kirkuk and its province on the same day. Within 15 hours, the city of Kirkuk and the nearby K-1 Air Base, along with surrounding oilfields, were retaken by Iraqi forces.[20] Most Peshmerga retreated from the city immediately without resistance.[4] This, in turn, led to the collapse of Kurdish defences, and to large-scale accusations of betrayal on the part of the Talabani family by the KDP, since the day before the Battle of Kirkuk, both parties had met in Dukan and agreed to fight.[21] On the same day, Iraqi forces advanced on and captured the city of Tuz Khurmatu in Saladin Governorate, 60km (40miles) south of Kirkuk, as well as Kifri in the Diyala Governorate.[22] [23]

On 16October Iraqi forces continued to advance, seizing the Baba GurGur oil field. In Tuz Khurmatu, two people were killed in exchanges of artillery fire.[24] Later in the day, the Iraqi Army announced that they had taken full control of the city as U.S.-trained counter-terrorism forces captured the provincial government headquarters. Afterward, celebrations could be heard from ethnic Turkmen in Kirkuk.[25] PUK Peshmerga units came to an agreement with the Iraqi government forces to withdraw from their positions in Kirkuk, but KDP affiliated Peshmerga units continued to resist the Iraqi advance, entrenching themselves in positions near the city of Dibis.[26] However, later on 16October Kurdish units near Dibis received orders to withdraw and abandoned the city ahead of the Iraqi advance.[27] The Iraqi government claimed on 16October that it had taken full control of the city of Kirkuk.[2] Kurdish reports indicated that their lines to the south of the city of Kirkuk crumbled as soon as they were engaged by Iraqi M1A1 Abrams tanks.[28]

On 17October Iraqi forces continued to advance, taking the Bai Hassan and Avana oil fields near Kirkuk.[29] By the end of 17October the Iraqi government claimed to have retaken all of the oil facilities it had held prior to the ISIL advance on the area in 2014.[27] On 18October the Iraqi government declared that they had completed its objectives in the offensive.[30] On 20October, the Iraqi forces, composed of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service units, Federal Police and PMF, announced that after a three-hour battle they had secured the last Kurdish-controlled town of Altun Kupri in Kirkuk Governorate, which was previously under Kurdish control.[31] This effectively allowed the Iraqi government to secure control of the remainder of Kirkuk Governorate.[32]

Aftermath

Violence and displacement

On 16October, The Guardian posted video footage showing streams of ethnic Kurdish refugees fleeing Kirkuk in cars.[33] Many of the displaced returned after Iraqi President Haider el-Abadi promised on television that their lives and property would be preserved.[34] On 19October, Nawzad Hadi, Governor of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, told reporters that around 18,000 families from Kirkuk and the town of Tuz Khurmatu had taken refuge in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, inside KRG territory. A Hadi aide told Reuters news agency the total number of displaced people was about 100,000.[35] The figure could not be independently verified and Reuters reported that many Kurdish neighbourhoods in Kirkuk city appeared to not have experienced many evacuations.[36] Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to KRG President Masoud Barzani, said in a post on Twitter that 57,000 families from Kirkuk were in need of "immediate assistance" after arriving in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Duhok provinces. He said that people had fled "violence, looting and crimes" inflicted by the PMF, paramilitary units largely made up of Iranian trained Shia militias.[37] A refugee told Al Jazeera they had fled because "At night, they come out and beat the youth. They have burned houses."[37] The United Nations released a statement that it was "concerned about reports regarding the destruction and looting of houses, businesses and political offices, and forced displacement of civilians, predominantly Kurds, from disputed areas",[38] and urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice.[39] [40] A total of 85,000 civilians have returned to their homes in Kirkuk a source inside the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration announced on 23October 2017.[41]

On 19October it was reported that UN relief offices received reports that 150 houses in the town of Tuz Khurmatu were burnt down and 11 houses were blown up, while the offices of local Turkmen political parties which had supported Kurdish independence were subjected to assaults.[37] [39] [40] Prime Minister al-Abadi described the incidents as having been caused by "extremist elements from both sides".[42] Al-Abadi accused social media instigators of posting fake videos of the alleged violations. Niqash confirmed the increase of fake news and hundreds of fake videos and pictures. Leaders on both sides say it is leading to a dangerous escalation of tensions in northern Iraq.[43] The Iranian-backed Shi'ite Hashd al-Shaabi militia is reported to have detonated and burnt homes owned by ethnic Kurds, and, while wearing the uniforms of the Iraqi federal police, used security as a pretext to raid the homes of Kurds and commit acts of violence.[44]

On 25October, Reuters reported that humanitarian organisations estimated that the number of Kurds displaced from the city of Tuz Khurmato was 30,000 out of a total population of around 100,000; Amnesty International noted that "satellite images, videos, photos and dozens of testimonies indicate that hundreds of properties were looted, set on fire and destroyed in what appeared to be a targeted attack on predominantly Kurdish areas of the city of about 100,000 people."[45] According to an Oxfam manager, Kurdish refugees from Tuz Khurmatu were staying in the open and in public places such as mosques and schools, and were in dire need of emergency aid and psychological support due to the traumatic incidents they had witnessed.[45] Amnesty International said that at least 11 people had been killed, citing the testimony of those who had escaped from the city, and said they had been attacked by Turkmen Shiite militiamen.[45]

Reactions

Notes and References

  1. News: Iraq forces in full control of Kirkuk province. www.aljazeera.com. 22 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022064609/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/iraq-forces-full-control-kirkuk-province-171021044707969.html. 22 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Baghdad: Iraqi forces in full control of Kirkuk. www.aljazeera.com. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016135524/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/baghdad-iraqi-forces-full-control-kirkuk-171016133409720.html. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  3. News: Iraqi forces complete Kirkuk province takeover after clashes with Kurds. 20 October 2017. Reuters. 21 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171021233246/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-clash/iraqi-forces-complete-kirkuk-province-takeover-after-clashes-with-kurds-idUSKBN1CP0PT. 21 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  4. News: Coalition Statement on Military Movements Near Kirkuk. Operation Inherent Resolve. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016215523/http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1343292/coalition-statement-on-military-movements-near-kirkuk/. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Guerrilla forces, Popular Crowd engage in clashes in central Kirkuk . . 16 October 2017 . 17 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171017145515/http://en.hawarnews.com/guerrilla-forces-popular-crowd-engage-in-clashes-in-central-kirkuk/ . 17 October 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: HPG statement on Kirkuk. ANF News. 16 October 2017. 17 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171017043908/https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/hpg-statement-on-kirkuk-22736. 17 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  7. News: Kurdistan Peshmerga:Reports of PKK in Kirkuk untrue . 16 October 2017 . 16 October 2017 . Rudaw . https://web.archive.org/web/20171017004002/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/151020175 . 17 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: After ISIS black flags, Iraq faces 'White Banners' threat | Mamoon Alabbasi .
  9. Web site: Middle-east Arab News Opinion. Asharq. Al-awsat. aawsat.com. 4 January 2019. 23 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023195949/https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1219846/white-banners-movement-ignites-war-words-among-iraqi-factions. live.
  10. News: Iraqi forces, Shiite militia engage in fighting with Peshmerga south of Kirkuk. 16 October 2017. Rudaw. https://web.archive.org/web/20171017205446/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/151020177. 17 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  11. News: Kerkük'te Türkmenler güvenliklerini kendileri sağlamaya başladı. Anadolu Ajansı. 17 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018012813/http://aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/kerkukte-turkmenler-guvenliklerini-kendileri-saglamaya-basladi/939408. 18 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Iraqi Forces Sweep Into Kirkuk, Checking Kurdish Independence Drive. New York Times.
  13. Web site: Iraq increasingly incapable of maintaining US-made tanks . www.rudaw.net . 4 March 2018.
  14. Web site: The Latest: Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after Kirkuk. AzDailySun.com. 18 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018012914/http://azdailysun.com/news/world/the-latest-medics-say-kurds-killed-in-kirkuk-fighting/article_09d57ae0-60aa-509a-a856-66206592ee7a.html. 18 October 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  15. Web site: Peshmerga commander reveals details about Kirkuk attack . 22 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011511/https://anfenglish.com/features/peshmerga-commander-reveals-details-about-kirkuk-attack-22827 . 23 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  16. Web site: 16 October 2017. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters reject Iraqi warning as deadline passes. Middle East Eye.
  17. News: Iraqi forces launch 'major' Kirkuk operation. 16 October 2017. Al-Jazeera. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016000225/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/iraqi-forces-launch-major-kirkuk-operation-171015220651177.html. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  18. News: Iraqi forces complete Kirkuk province takeover after clashes with Kurds. 20 October 2017. Reuters. 21 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171021233246/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-clash/iraqi-forces-complete-kirkuk-province-takeover-after-clashes-with-kurds-idUSKBN1CP0PT. 21 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  19. News: الانسحاب من كركوك.. مهلة للبيشمركة تنتهي الليلة. 24 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022514/http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/iraq/2017/10/14/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%88%D9%83-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9.html. 25 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  20. News: Baghdad: Iraqi forces in full control of Kirkuk. 17 October 2017. www.aljazeera.com. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016234001/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/baghdad-iraqi-forces-full-control-kirkuk-171016133409720.html. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  21. News: Mutual accusations after the withdrawal. 2 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171221144439/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/181020171. 21 December 2017. live. dmy-all.
  22. News: Baghdad forces seize Tuz Khurmatu amid Kirkuk operation. 17 October 2017. Anadolu Agency. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016195045/http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/baghdad-forces-seize-tuz-khurmatu-amid-kirkuk-operation/938885. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  23. News: Peshmerga to withdraw from Dilaya governorate – Egypt Today. 17 October 2017. Egypt Today. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093656/https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/27939/Peshmerga-to-withdraw-from-Dilaya-governorate. 17 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  24. News: Iraqi and Kurdish forces battle over Kirkuk as 'major operation' launched. The Telegraph . Agence France-Presse. 16 October 2017. 16 October 2017. www.telegraph.co.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016072301/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/16/iraqi-kurdish-forces-battle-kirkuk-major-operation-launched/. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all . France-Presse . Agence .
  25. News: Iraqi forces seize Kirkuk from Kurds in bold advance. 15 October 2017. Reuters. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016035905/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-kirkuk/iraqi-forces-start-advancing-toward-kurdish-held-kirkuk-iraqi-and-kurdish-officials-idUSKBN1CK0XL. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  26. Web site: Iraqi Forces Sweep Into Kirkuk, Checking Kurdish Independence Drive. David. Zucchino. 16 October 2017. 16 October 2017. www.nytimes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016120839/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/world/middleeast/kirkuk-iraq-kurds.html. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: Iraqi Forces Retake All Oil Fields in Disputed Areas as Kurds Retreat. David. Zucchino. 17 October 2017. 18 October 2017. www.NYTimes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018055552/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/middleeast/iraq-kurds-kirkuk.html. 18 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  28. News: US Abrams tanks sway the battle in Kirkuk. Army Times. 19 October 2017.
  29. Web site: Iraqi forces move deeper into Kurdish-held areas, redrawing political map. Loveday. Morris. Tamer. El-Ghobashy. Aaso Ameen. Shwan. 17 October 2017. 18 October 2017. www.WashingtonPost.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018092525/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iraqi-forces-take-back-sinjar-in-latest-effort-to-roll-back-kurdish-gains-of-the-past-years/2017/10/17/61032770-b30d-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html. 18 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  30. News: Iraq's military declares mission accomplished in Kirkuk. www.aljazeera.com. 18 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018141150/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/iraq-military-declares-mission-accomplished-kirkuk-171018085053447.html. 18 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  31. News: Iraqi forces complete takeover of Kirkuk province after clashing with Kurds . 20 October 2017 . Reuters . 2017-10-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171020120926/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-clash/iraqi-and-kurdish-forces-clash-near-kirkuk-security-sources-idUSKBN1CP0PT . 20 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  32. Web site: Clashes as Iraqi army takes last Kurd-held area of Kirkuk province. The Jordan Times. 21 October 2017. 22 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022012455/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/clashes-iraqi-army-takes-last-kurd-held-area-kirkuk-province. 22 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  33. News: US military rushes to defuse looming crisis in Kirkuk after Iraqi army advances. The Guardian. 16 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027022427/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/iraq-kurdish-forces-army-us-military. 27 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  34. News: عودة النازحين إلى كركوك. Euronews. 18 October 2017. ar. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171023181243/http://arabic.euronews.com/2017/10/18/displaced-families-return-to-kirkuk-after-withdrawal-of-peshmerga. 23 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  35. News: About 100,000 Kurds have fled Kirkuk since Monday: Kurdish officials . Reuters . 19 October 2017 . 20 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019192830/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-refugees/about-100000-kurds-have-fled-kirkuk-since-monday-kurdish-officials-idUSKBN1CO13D . 19 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  36. News: Chmaytelli. Maher. Kurdish officials say thousands flee Kirkuk since Iraqi army takeover. IN. en-IN. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002115/https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds/kurdish-officials-say-thousands-flee-kirkuk-since-iraqi-army-takeover-idINKBN1CO28M. 26 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  37. News: '100,000 flee Kirkuk' since Iraqi army takeover . Al Jazeera . 20 October 2017 . 20 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171020052538/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/000-flee-kirkuk-iraqi-army-takeover-171019215041252.html . 20 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  38. News: U.N. concerned over alleged assaults on Kurds in Kirkuk. 20 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020020006/https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/u-n-concerned-alleged-deportations-assaults-kurds-kirkuk/. 20 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  39. News: UPDATE 1-UN concerned by reports of forced diplacement of Kurds in N. Iraq . Reuters . 19 October 2017 . "Kirkuk residents said on Wednesday that offices belonging to Turkmen parties who supported the Kurdish referendum were attacked in Kirkuk." . 20 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135641/https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-violations/update-1-un-concerned-by-reports-of-forced-diplacement-of-kurds-in-niraq-idUSL8N1MU57Y . 20 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  40. News: UN Expresses Concern about Reports of Violence in Tuz Khurmatu, in Kirkuk [EN/AR/KU]]. ReliefWeb. 19 October 2017. en. 20 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135857/https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/un-expresses-concern-about-reports-violence-tuz-khurmatu-kirkuk-enarku. 20 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  41. News: 85,000 of displaced civilians return to their homes in Kirkuk. The Baghdad Post. 23 October 2017. en. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015348/http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/18680/85-000-of-displaced-civilians-return-to-their-homes-in-Kirkuk. 7 November 2017. live. dmy-all.
  42. News: UN relief offices. "The United Nations takes note of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's acknowledgement of incidents caused by what he described as extremist elements from both sides and his decision to send the Iraqi army to restore order in Tuz Khurmatu". 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014343/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PR%20Tuz%2019%20Oct%20EN.pdf. 7 November 2017. live. dmy-all.
  43. News: Qader. Histyar. Dangerous Growth Of Fake News Increases Tensions In Northern Iraq. Niqash. en. 30 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010738/http://www.niqash.org/en/articles/security/5763/. 7 November 2017. live. dmy-all.
  44. News: [PICTURES]

    Iranian-backed Shi'ite Militias Destroy Kurdish Properties in Tuz Khurmatu]

    . Bas. 22 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027212848/http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/387172. 27 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  45. News: Nearly 30,000 Kurds displaced from city near Kirkuk: aid groups. Reuters. Reuters Staff. 25 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028180455/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-tuz/nearly-30000-kurds-displaced-from-city-near-kirkuk-aid-groups-idUSKBN1CU1QG. 28 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  46. Web site: U.S. 'not taking sides' in Iraqi-Kurdish dispute - Trump. Reuters. 16 October 2017.
  47. Web site: Turkey supports Iraq's moves to restore peace, order in Kirkuk, MFA says . Daily Sabah . 16 October 2017 . 16 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171016125923/https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2017/10/16/turkey-supports-iraqs-moves-to-restore-peace-order-in-kirkuk-mfa-says . 16 October 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  48. News: Iraq accuses Kurds of 'declaration of war' in Kirkuk. aljazeera.com. 23 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171023230822/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/iraq-accuses-kurds-declaration-war-kirkuk-171015162837238.html. 23 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  49. Web site: Coalition Statement on Military Movements Near Kirkuk. 16 October 2017. 16 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016215523/http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1343292/coalition-statement-on-military-movements-near-kirkuk/. 16 October 2017. live. dmy-all.
  50. News: A new war in Iraq, now between Shia Arabs and Kurds. The Economist. 16 October 2017. 18 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018064624/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21730328-iraqi-leaders-act-retake-city-and-its-oilfields-kurds-new-war. 18 October 2017. live. dmy-all.

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