Following the surrender and departure of Iraq's army from these territories -- after the swift takeover of Mosul by insurgents -- Kurdish Peshmerga forces were deployed along the disputed areas to "fill the power vacuum," Kurdish military officials have said.

Late on Friday, the Kurdish ministry of Peshmerga (defense) stated that, except for some areas, "The entire Kurdish territories outside Kurdistan Region were now in the hands of the Kurdish forces."

The statement confidently reassured that "the Kurdish troops have no intention of leaving the area."

"We are here to stay," it declared. "Basically, all Kurdish villages and localities are now protected by the Peshmerga forces."

Even the remote border gate of Rabia on the Syrian border is now fully managed by the Peshmerga. The ministry also said that all Kurdish areas in Nineveh province are now under the control of Peshmerga forces.