In a significant development following last month's deadly altercation between Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces near Makhmour Refugee Camp, both parties have reached an agreement to jointly oversee key military posts. The dispute arose after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced their withdrawal from the area.

Ghazi Faysal, a commander of a Peshmerga volunteer unit in Makhmour, confirmed the decision, stating, "It has been decided to divide the three military posts into six - three will be controlled by Peshmerga and the others will be ruled by the Iraqi army."

Initially, the altercation was attributed to a disagreement over who should replace PKK fighters in the region. However, Kurdish officials later clarified that it was a "misunderstanding."

Makhmour Refugee Camp, which has long provided sanctuary to thousands of Kurds fleeing Turkey, has been the target of Turkish bombardments. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled it a "breeding ground" for the PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Faysal noted that camp residents harbor reservations about Peshmerga forces associated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), due to the party's close ties with Turkey. He explained, "First, they have issues with the KDP friends and they believe that the Iraqi government can provide them with ground and aerial protection."

Sirwan Barzani, commander of Peshmerga forces in Makhmour, reported that he held a meeting with a senior delegation from the Iraqi army to ensure better coordination and safety in the area.

In response to the agreement, residents of the camp staged a protest, during which the Iraqi army assured them that no military post had been handed over to the Peshmerga, according to Faysal.

Tragically, four members of the Peshmerga forces, including a brigade commander and his deputy, lost their lives in the Makhmour clashes, and several others sustained injuries.

The Iraqi army's demand for control of the vacated military posts was in exchange for providing security for the camp. However, these posts fall within the jurisdiction of the Peshmerga forces. Makhmour is situated along the contentious border between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq, with plans in place to establish joint Peshmerga-Iraqi brigades to secure these disputed areas, including Makhmour, though full implementation remains pending.