![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753644-scaled.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
![Lieutenant Kameran Ahmad speaks to press as Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 [Ali Mukarrem Garip/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753661.jpg?w=610&h=407&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Lieutenant Kameran Ahmad speaks to press as Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 [Ali Mukarrem Garip/Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753660.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753659.jpg?w=302&h=201&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753657-scaled.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqis arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753656.jpg?w=302&h=201&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753655.jpg?w=610&h=407&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi refugees take shelter near peshmerga forces in Iraq on 7 December 2016 [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753654-scaled.jpg?w=456&h=304&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi refugees take shelter near peshmerga forces in Iraq on 7 December 2016 [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753653.jpg?w=456&h=304&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753652.jpg?w=303&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753651.jpg?w=303&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753650.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753649.jpg?w=610&h=407&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753648.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753647.jpg?w=302&h=201&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753646.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753645.jpg?w=302&h=201&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]
![Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161207_2_20561502_16753644-scaled.jpg?w=610&h=407&ssl=1 "Iraqis flee from Daesh controlled areas")
Iraqi civilians arrive at Maktab Khalid region near Kirkuk, Iraq on December 07, 2016 to take shelter near peshmerga forces [Ali Mukarrem Garip /Anadolu Agency]