The Security Media Center of the Joint Operations Command said in a statement that the CT forces have had “very high performance” in protecting Kirkuk for over a year and have contributed to many “successful security operations”.
“In the continuous movement of the [security] sectors, approval of the commander in chief of armed forces has been obtained to replace these sectors with brigade 61 of the special division,” added the statement.
The security media center rejected reports that the brigade sent to Kirkuk as replacement was from presidential guards.
The presidential guard brigade is mostly made up of Kurds and Peshmerga as the office of presidency is held by a Kurd. It was rumored that they would take over security in the province.
The 61st Brigade is currently conducting “wide reconnaissance” operations in Kirkuk in a bid to get familiar with the terrain to undertake their duty based on plans given to them by the joint operations command for re-deployment.
The province of Kirkuk was largely controlled by Peshmerga and Kurdish security forces. In 2014, Iraqi forces collapsed against ISIS, leaving the province fully. Peshmerga forces fully took control of the province.
On October 16 Iraqi troops moved into the city and forced a Peshmerga retreat.
