Iraqi forces clashed on Friday with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) forces at Altun Kupri, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north west of Kirkuk, on the road between the city and Kurdish capital Irbil, security sources said.
The Iraqi army also took control of the last sector of Kurdish-held Kirkuk province in northern Iraq after the clashes.
"The army, police and counter-terrorism forces entered the center of the Altun Kupri region," just 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Irbil, said the source, asking not to be named.
"There were clashes but they managed to launch the assault... and hoist the flag on the municipality building."