ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army soldiers clashed near Erbil province’s Makhmour refugee camp on Sunday afternoon, resulting in casualties on both sides. There is now a ceasefire in place, according to the Peshmerga. Ghazi Faisal, head of a unit of Peshmerga volunteers in Makhmour district, told Rudaw that the clash was over “three military posts east of the camp that have been previously evacuated and the Iraqi army wants to control.” Makhmour camp houses Kurdish refugees from Turkey. It is located in an area disputed between Baghdad and Erbil and therefore characterized by a security vacuum. It has been hit many times by Turkish forces claiming to target the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). On Thursday, the PKK announced that it had withdrawn all its fighters from the camp and Iraqi troops were subsequently stationed in the areas they had evacuated. The Iraqi army has demanded control of the three posts in return for providing security for the camp. The posts, however, are located within the jurisdiction of the Peshmerga forces per a security agreement between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army’s Nineveh Joint Operations command, according to Faisal. At least 12 Peshmerga were taken to hospital in Erbil for treatment of injuries sustained in the clash, according to Rudaw’s reporter on the ground. One Peshmerga has reportedly died. There is no immediate confirmation of casualties among the Iraqi forces. “A ceasefire between the two sides has been declared,” Faisal said. Ankara believes the PKK uses Makhmour camp as a training ground, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2021 calling it an “incubation center for terrorism.” The Iraqi army unsuccessfully attempted to take over the camp in May. Updated at 8:00 PM
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