![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=1200%2C800&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=797&h=531&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=395&h=264&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=395&h=263&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=396&h=264&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=396&h=264&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=396&h=264&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=395&h=264&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=395&h=263&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=797&h=531&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=596&h=397&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=596&h=397&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=797&h=531&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=395&h=264&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=395&h=263&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=396&h=264&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=396&h=264&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=396&h=264&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]