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October 16, 2017

Iraq Begins Offensive to Seize Kirkuk After Kurdish Independence Vote
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The Iraqi Army has begun an offensive aimed at seizing the northern city
of Kirkuk from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, after voters in Iraq's
Kurdish regions voted overwhelmingly for independence. A Kurdish
commander said Monday his forces had retreated to positions outside the
city of 1 million people as Iraqi forces moved in and also seized an oil
company south of Kirkuk, adding that there were "lots of casualties" due
to fighting.


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