The international coalition battling the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) on Monday (October 16th) urged Baghdad and Iraq's Kurds to "avoid escalatory actions", AFP reported.

"We continue to advocate dialogue between Iraqi and Kurdish authorities," Maj. Gen. Robert White, a commanding general in the coalition, said in a statement after Iraqi forces launched an operation to retake parts of Kirkuk province.

"All parties must remain focused on the defeat of our common enemy, ISIS, in Iraq," he said.

The Iraqi operation aims to retake oil and military sites in Kirkuk that Kurdish forces took over during the fightback against ISIS, and follows the referendum last month which saw Iraqi Kurds back independence for their northern region.

At least 10 Kurdish fighters were killed and 27 wounded during fighting overnight with Iraqi paramilitary forces, a Kurdish official said.

Coalition forces are not supporting activities by the Iraqi or Kurdish governments around Kirkuk, the statement said.

Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday called on Iraq's federal government and the Kurdish regional government to show restraint, Ahram Online reported.

In a statement, the ministry said Iraqi and Kurdish forces should avoid drifting into confrontations that would fuel tensions and instability in the region.

The ministry called on all parties to engage in dialogue and compromise solutions to defuse a crisis that could have dangerous regional and international implications.