According Sputnik, the Iraqi troops have launched a massive offensive to take control over the contested region.

Kurdish Peshmerga militia reportedly clashed with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces ( Hashd Shaabi) that were trying to enter Kirkuk from the town of Taza Khurmatu just south of the disputed region, Hemin Hawrami, senior assistant to Kurdish region's head Masoud Barzani, said Monday.

/SR