An Iraqi Ministry of Interior committee visited Kirkuk to finalize transferring the city's security portfolio from the Joint Operations Command to the local police. Following official approvals, local forces will assume full internal security control, while the Iraqi Army relocates to the outskirts of the city.

The high-level committee from the ministry visited the city’s Police Directorate on Monday to oversee the transfer of the security portfolio. 

Kirkuk Police Ready for Final Security Handover Phase 

Amer Shwani, spokesperson for the Kirkuk Police, told Channel8 that the primary purpose of the committee's visit is to document and provide for the essential needs of the police force. 

This serves as the final phase before officially handing over security control to the local police forces, which operate under the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

The spokesperson added that the Kirkuk Police are fully prepared to take complete control of the governorate’s security portfolio. 

Official Kirkuk Security Handover Awaits Final Approvals 

Channel8 has learned that the high-level Ministry of Interior committee will hold meetings with relevant authorities in Kirkuk.

Following the completion of these procedures, the official handover depends on upcoming authorization from the Iraqi Minister of Interior, the Council of Ministers, and the Iraqi Joint Operations Command to formally transfer Kirkuk's security file to the local police.

Iraqi Army Exits Kirkuk Center As Local Police Take Control 

These steps to hand over the security file—which has been under the control of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command in Kirkuk since the events of 2017—come at a time when a Kurd is expected to soon reclaim the post of Kirkuk Police Chief. 

With the return of the governorate's security portfolio, the Iraqi Army will be stationed on the outskirts of Kirkuk, while internal security duties, particularly managing checkpoints along the Kirkuk borders, will be entrusted to the local police.