Iraqi forces set Peshmerga statue on fire in Kirkuk

A statue depicting a Peshmerga fighter in Iraq’s Kirkuk has been set on fire by Iraqi forces on Tuesday, footage from the area appeared to show.

The Baghdad administration has repeatedly asked the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to tear down the controversial statue, however, its request has not been met positively by the KRG.

Crowds rejoicing the defeat of the Peshmerga in Kirkuk continued to celebrate near the statue despite columns of black smoke rising over the area.

On Monday, Iraqi forces captured the oil-rich Kirkuk city, three weeks after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held a referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region.