Developing: Kurds to retake control of areas from Iraq and pro-Iranian militia

It is reported that an "upraising" took place in the Kurdish city of Khanaqin South West of Kirkuk (Iraq), where Iraqi army and pro-Iranian the Popular Mobilisations Force (PMF), early hours of the morning.

The Al-Arabia media network reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, in a statement has ordered the army and the PMF to withdraw from the disputed areas they took over on October 16th.

Some Kurdish media are showing live footage of Peshmerga preparing to enter the city of Kirkuk where people have taken to the streets in the predominantly Kurdish suburbs. There are also reports of clashing between armed civilian volunteers and the Iraqi forces.

There are also claims that the Iraqi forces have withdrawn from the town of Sinjar (Shingal) after they took complete control over it in the last couple of days.

Peshmerga preparing to launch operation to retake Kirkuk Source: Kadar Sheikhmous

The events are fast changing and many details are unknown yet. However Kurdish media owned by pro-Iraq faction of the Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) last reported that they are planning to appoint a new governor for Kirkuk, and claimed that the situation of the city was being "normalised" and that the PUK security and anti-terror forces were taking control.

This story is continuing to develop, more updates to follow.