Iraqi army redeploys forces along Kirkuk–Tuzhurmatu line

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Ministry of Defense has begun redeploying and maneuvering military units in the area between Kirkuk and the Tuzhurmatu district, ministry spokesperson Major General Yahya Rasool said in a written statement. Rasool denied social media and news website reports that the army was carrying out a large-scale withdrawal from the corridor, calling the process a redeployment and repositioning of forces under approved plans, with additional troops sent to some positions. The spokesperson said the activity did not represent a pullback from existing positions and was being carried out within standard military planning. The area between Kirkuk and Tuzhurmatu lies within the disputed territories that have long been at the center of administrative disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad. The redeployment decision was taken as part of an update to security plans in the area, according to the ministry. No further details on the scale or timeline of the redeployment were immediately available.