The Joint Operations Command have deployed anti-terrorist units in the K1 military base to the northwest of Kirkuk.

The base was formed in 2003 by the United States Army at the 12th Division of the Iraqi Army headquarters. 

The Islamic State terrorist group took over the base in June 2014 and since then the Iraqi troops have been able to regain territory but it has not been without disagreements, which have been numerous between Baghdad, autonomous regions and the province of Kirkuk.