The Iraqi Joint
Operations Command accused the Kurds of walking out on talks over setting the demarcation line
between the central and regional governments and control over border crossings.
Prime Minister Haidar Abadi stated that the federal forces should have
authority over every part of the country and control the borders. Kurdish
officials on the other hand, accused Baghdad of being provocative. The
breakdown led to warnings from the two sides that they were ready to return to
arms if necessary. The Kurds are still hoping for more talks with news that Kurdistan Premier Nechirvan Barzani
would be heading to Baghdad soon. This was a turn for the worse as just a few
days before Irbil and Baghdad had seemingly come to an agreement over the
disputed areas and border points.
On October 27, the
Iraqi forces and Peshmerga were ready for another round of fighting for
Fishkhabur, the point where the Kurdish pipeline crosses into Turkey before an
informal ceasefire was announced leading to a series of negotiations. Before
that, the Iraqi forces gave the Kurds a few hours to retreat from the border crossing or face
another attack. An unofficial truce was then announced. On October 29, a Kurdish official said that they were willing to allow the government to occupy the Makhmour
district in western Ninewa and have a presence at
Fishkhabur. The next day it was reported that the federal forces would enter all the disputed areas of Ninewa,
while at Fishkhabur there would be the Peshmerga, border guards, and government
units. There was also a larger agreement that the Kurds would fall back to
their 2003 border. On October 31, there was a sign this was being implemented
when Baghdad set up its own checkpoint at the Harbur border crossing with Turkey in between Kurdish and
Turkish ones. If progress was being made both in talks and on the ground, it is
unclear how things suddenly broke down. Baghdad claimed that the Kurds were
playing for time. That may be true as PM Barzani has assumed leadership of the
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) after his uncle President Masoud Barzani
stepped down, and may have wanted to formulate his own policy. The U.S. is also
actively pushing for dialogue over another round of fighting. The problem is
Baghdad has the initiative and could resort back to force to take Fishkhabur.
Therefore, the KRG may have no time to play for.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “Iraq sets deadline for Kurds to quit Turkey border
posts,” 10/27/17
Al Alam, “The end of the meeting of the federal military leaders with
leaders of the Peshmerga, and this is the result,” 10/28/17
Al Baghdadiya News, “Security official: Peshmerga will return to the
borders of 2003,” 10/28/17
Al Ghad Press, “Al Ghad Press Sources There is no ceasefire agreement
between the security forces and the Kurds, but the truce continues,” 10/27/17
Irakna News Portal, “Sources: Extension of the truce between Erbil and
Baghdad until reaching an agreement,” 10/29/17
Iraq Newspaper, “Iraq: Agreement Between Baghdad And Irbil On The
Deployment Of Forces In Mahmudiya, Shiekhan, Sahila, Qush, Khazir, Faida,
Quwir,” 10/30/17
Al Mada, “Nechirvan Barzani will be in Baghdad soon to launch a dialogue
with the government,” 11/1/17
- “The truce with the Peshmerga and the differences over the border on
the Blue Line,” 10/29/17
NINA, “Urgent…Peshmerga withdraw From Makhmour District Southeast of
Mosul,” 10/28/17
Rasheed, Ahmed, Gurses, Ercan, Jalabi, Raya, “Iraqi authorities gain
first foothold at Kurdish frontier with Turkey,” Reuters, 10/31/17
Rudaw, “Iraqi army says talks with Peshmerg failed,” 11/1/17
- “Peshmerga, Iraqi army reach deal on Fish Khabur,” 10/29/17
Tahir, Rawaz, Kullab, Samya, Hussein, Mohammed, Van Heuvelen, Ben,
“Federal forces launch offensive for Fayshkabour,” Iraq Oil Report, 10/27/17
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