The Iraqi security forces have captured several key positions outside Kirkuk city from the Kurdish forces, BBC reported on Monday citing a statement by Iraqi military. The military said its units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company’s offices.

The military said the Kurdish Peshmerga forces had withdrawn from the captured areas without fighting. However, BBC reported clashes south of Kirkuk.

Iraq intensified operations against Peshmerga on Sunday as tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government rose following the Kurdish independence referendum on September 25, Reuters reported.

More than 92% of voters approved Kurdish independence from Iraq in the September 25 referendum. Following this, the Iraqi government on September 30 suspended all international flights to and from the Kurdistan region.

Baghdad said the ban would continue unless the Kurds handed over control of the Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports. However, the Kurdistan Regional Government rejected the demand, saying these airports were needed for the fight against the Islamic State group.