HPG (People’s Defense Forces) Press Office released a short statement about the situation in Kirkuk, which said the following;

“The Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces launched attacks on Kirkuk city and surroundings starting from early Monday morning. In the wake of the attacks, peshmerga forces in the region abandoned their positions and retreated. In the face of this situation, our guerrilla forces have taken up positions and formed a line of defense in and around the city center. Sporadic clashes have taken place between the Iraqi army and our forces.”

HPG added that detailed information on the incidents will be shared with public later on.