Iraqi Ministry of Defense denies army withdrawal from positions near Kirkuk Governorate

Baghdad, August 13 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Defense today denied circulating reports of a major withdrawal of the Iraqi Army from positions near Kirkuk province, which borders the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in the north of the country.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Major General Yahya Rasoul, stated in a bulletin that there is no truth to claims spread by various social media platforms and media outlets regarding a large-scale Iraqi Army withdrawal from military points between Tuz Khurmatu, a city in Salah al-Din province, and Kirkuk province.

He clarified that military movements in the area consist of redeployment, rotation, and maneuvering of military units, alongside reinforcing certain positions with additional forces, in accordance with established military plans and procedures, and do not involve any withdrawal from military sites.

These redeployment operations come as Iraq prepares for the withdrawal of the remaining international coalition forces from its territory by September 30, amid significant security challenges, foremost among them the issue of monopolizing weapons within the state. (End) A.H.H. / T.M.A.