Iraq’s Oil Ministry said Friday that Kurdish Peshmerga forces had seized control of production facilities at two key oil fields near the northern city of Kirkuk, in a move that could further worsen already frayed relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad. According to a statement published on the Iraqi oil ministry’s website, Kurdish Peshmerga forces accompanied by a number of civilians took control of the Kirkuk and Bai Hassan oil fields at dawn Friday, expelling employees of Iraq’s central-government controlled North Oil Company. “The ministry strongly warns the Kurdistan region about the seriousness of this irresponsible behavior,” the statement said, adding that there could be “serious consequences” if the Kurdish forces didn’t withdraw from the oil fields. Kurdish forces have held control of the disputed and oil-rich town of Kirkuk since insurgents overran the nearby town of Mosul, though until now they have not […]