US, UN express concern over mounting violence in Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US State Department responded to a statement released by the UN regarding violence, looting and forced displacement of civilians, primarily Kurds, from disputed areas such as Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu but denied Iranian involvement in military operations.

“We would like to see a unified, democratic Iraq,” Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press conference on Thursday, responding to reports of violence and looting. “We’ve been engaged in this process. We recognize that the Kurds have some legitimate complaints and concerns.”

In the statement released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) earlier in the day, it said that the UN is concerned about reports “regarding the destruction and looting of houses, businesses and political offices, and forced displacement of civilians, predominately Kurds, from disputed areas.”

The UN received reports of the burning of roughly 150 houses in Tuz Khurmatu by armed groups on Monday and Tuesday, stating that 11 houses reportedly belonged to Kurdish families of officials of Kurdish political parties were destroyed by explosives.

Attacks against Turkmen parties’ political offices in Kirkuk were also reported per the UN press release.

“I saw a headline about that. I don’t have any details on that. I think I would go back to saying that we call upon all sides to refrain from violence,” Nauert said in response. “We recognize the Iraqi constitution and that Iraqis have worked with the Kurds on a coordinated effort to start moving north. We would just continue to call on all sides for calm.”

When asked about the arrest warrant issued for the Vice President of the Kurdistan Region Kosrat Rasul, Nauert refrained from commenting on the US’ stance and directed the reporter back to the Iraqi government and the Kurds for discussion.

“We continue to work with officials in the federal government and also in the regional governments to try to promote peace and stability and reduce tensions and to encourage dialogue, but – we’re aware of these reports, they’re fairly fresh, so I’d have to just ask you to speak with the governments,” she said.

Nauert was also asked about Iran’s influence on the Iraqi government which allowed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s forces to take over Kirkuk on Monday and caused some Kurds to feel betrayed.

“So first let me say that we were all aware of the action that Iraq was planning to take,” Nauert said. “Iraq spoke about it publicly, so this was not a surprise once this started happening.”

“This is part of the reason we were concerned about the Kurdish referendum,” she added. “I will go back to saying the Kurds have some legitimate complaints, of course."

"There were things that were supposed to be done under the Iraqi constitution that my understanding is have not been fulfilled just yet. We hope that everyone will go back to and follow through on the Iraqi constitution.”

“And when the Iranian regime shows up, bad things tend to happen,” she added. “But this operation that took place, to go north – for the Iraqi Government to go north was something that was coordinated with the Kurds. That is an – our understanding.”

Nauert said that she was not aware of any Iranian involvement in the operations for the Iraqi government to take over of Kirkuk.

“I know a lot is being made of that, but I just want to underscore what a huge concern Iran remains for us, not just there but throughout the entire region,” she said.

The head of the CIA, speaking at a security conference on Thursday, said that he was aware Iranian Quds’ commander Qassem Soleimani had been seen in Kirkuk this week.

Local accounts report that the Iraqi forces and the Iranian-backed Shiite Hashd a-Shaabi took control of most of the disputed or Kurdistani areas on Monday and Tuesday, rolling back the Kurdish forces after the Peshmerga’s initial withdrawal.

The Peshmerga and the Iraqi army supported by the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi have exchanged heavy fire on Friday morning in Pirde, also known as Altun Kupri, on the Erbil-Kirkuk road.

A Peshmerga commander said that the Iraqi army and the Hashd al-Shaabi initiated the clashes at 8 a.m. after a military buildup near the Peshmerga positions.

The UN is urging the Iraqi government to “take every action to halt any violence and ensure that all civilians are protected and that the perpetrators of acts of violence, intimidation and forced displacement of civilians be brought to justice.”

US, UN express concern over mounting violence in Kirkuk

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