SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces detained eight Peshmerga including an officer for several hours near Kirkuk on Tuesday, a security source told Esta Media Network.
The eight Peshmerga were arrested at Smail Bag checkpoint in Shwan sub-district in Kirkuk province on Tuesday morning, a security source who spoke under condition of anonymity said.
“They were released three hours after their detention following efforts made by the director of police in Kirkuk,” he added.
“The Iraqi forces’ excuse to arrest the Peshmerga was that they had weapons.”
The checkpoint is the latest point under the control of the Iraqi forces in Kirkuk.
The federal government retook control of the disputed areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil from the Kurdish forces in October 2017 in the wake of the independence referendum. Since then, security has been run by the Iraqi forces and Hashid al-Shaabi and Rakan al-Jabouri has become Kirkuk governor.
