Update: U.S.-Coalition denies ceasefire agreement between Baghdad, Erbil

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The U.S.-led Coalition has denied reaching an agreement on ceasefire between Baghdad and Erbil, hours after declaring an agreement was reached on Friday.

“I incorrectly said in interivew today with @RudawEnglish there was a “ceasefire” b/w Iraqi and Kurdish forces,” Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesperson for the Coalition in Baghdad, said on Twitter.

Both parties talking w/ one another, but not an official “ceasefire,” Dillon said in another tweet.

Earlier on the day, Dillon said in an interview with Rudaw TV “what we know is that there is a cease-fire,”adding that they seek the ceasefire to be extended so both parties would focus on fighting Islamic State.

According to Patriotic Union of Kurdistan official, previously today, the agreement will last for 24 hours only.

Speaking to Baghdad Today, Ghayyath al-Surji said, “after developments between Iraqi troops and Peshmerga in Rabia and Zummar, several communications were made before reaching a 24-hour ceasefire agreement.”

“Iraqi and Peshmerga leaders will hold meetings over the coming few hours to discuss the situation of Faysh Khabur and other regions, where Peshmerga is still deployed,” he added.

Iraqi troops have reportedly given the Peshmerga troops two-hour ultimatum to withdraw from Faysh Khabur border crossing on Iraqi-Turkish-Syrian borders.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council said on Thursday Iraqi forces have launched an attack against the Kurdish Peshmerga troops deployed in Zummar, northwestern Nineveh,

Iraqi troops headed on Wednesday toward Ibrahim al-Khalil border crossing in Duhuq between Iraq and Turkey to impose control on it, Russian Sputnik news agency reported.

Earlier this week, a source from the Iraqi army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service, told Alghad Press that army troops are getting ready to advance toward Faysh Khabur exit, between Iraq and Syria, within the coming few hours. He added that the exit border was located within Mosul before 2003.

Baghdad had declared intentions to retake areas disputed on with Erbil following the Kurdistan Region’s vote for independence from Iraq in September, urging Peshmerga to cooperate with federal troops.