ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--One member of the Iraqi security forces was wounded and another two were detained on Monday in a confrontation with Kurdish security in Khurmatu, south of Kirkuk, a Kurdish security official told Rudaw.
The incident occurred when a vehicle from the Iraqi national security tried to cross a Kurdish checkpoint in Khurmatu, located between Khurmatu and Slemanbag, “without following the rules, but were stopped by the security,” Mohamad Fayeq, director of communication for the Asayesh, Kurdish security, in Khurmatu, told Rudaw.
“When the vehicle tried to get through the checkpoint without following the rules, one of them got off and opened fire,” Fayeq said. “The security forces responded and injured one of them, and detained another two.”
He said the wounded man was taken to Azadi hospital in Kirkuk, and the detainees were being held in Khurmatu.
Following the incident, Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militia present in the town reiterated to the Kurdish forces that everybody has to respect the rules, Fayeq said.
He added that the Iraqi forces had come to the city from Baghdad.
Diverse Khurmatu hosts a variety of security forces and militias that have repeatedly come into conflict.
Kurdish forces and Shiite militias reached an agreement in late April to end clashes between them that killed dozens of Peshmerga forces, members of the Shiite militias, and civilians.
According to the agreement both parties agreed to withdraw their military forces to outside the urban areas.
The incident occurred when a vehicle from the Iraqi national security tried to cross a Kurdish checkpoint in Khurmatu, located between Khurmatu and Slemanbag, “without following the rules, but were stopped by the security,” Mohamad Fayeq, director of communication for the Asayesh, Kurdish security, in Khurmatu, told Rudaw.
“When the vehicle tried to get through the checkpoint without following the rules, one of them got off and opened fire,” Fayeq said. “The security forces responded and injured one of them, and detained another two.”
He said the wounded man was taken to Azadi hospital in Kirkuk, and the detainees were being held in Khurmatu.
Following the incident, Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militia present in the town reiterated to the Kurdish forces that everybody has to respect the rules, Fayeq said.
He added that the Iraqi forces had come to the city from Baghdad.
On Saturday, "a force from Baghdad" entered Khurmatu and arrested two leaders of Shiite Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, closed their military post and forced them to leave the urban areas, according to Kurdish officials in the town.
Diverse Khurmatu hosts a variety of security forces and militias that have repeatedly come into conflict.
Kurdish forces and Shiite militias reached an agreement in late April to end clashes between them that killed dozens of Peshmerga forces, members of the Shiite militias, and civilians.
According to the agreement both parties agreed to withdraw their military forces to outside the urban areas.
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