Iraqi Kurds sent thousands of troops to reinforce the contested city of Kirkuk on Friday, amid fears that Iraqi federal forces and Shiite militias are preparing a major offensive to wrest it from Kurdish control.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council reported significant Iraqi military and Popular Mobilization Forces build up around the mixed-ethnicity towns of Bashir and Taza south of Kirkuk.

“These forces are [approximately] 3km from Peshmerga forces,” the KRSC tweeted. “Intelligence shows intention to takeover nearby oil fields, airport and military base.”

An unnamed Iraqi general was quoted yesterday by AFP as saying: “Iraqi armed forces are advancing to retake the military positions that were taken over during the events of June 2014.”

In response an estimated 6,000 Peshmerga forces have been sent to reinforce Kirkuk.

“Thousands of heavily armed [Pehsmerga] units are now completely in their positions around Kirkuk,” advisor to Kurdish President Masoud Barzani Hemin Hawrami wrote on Twitter. “Their order is to defend at any cost.” K