BAGHDAD — Kurdish militias have been granted security responsibility for northern Iraq.

Officials said the forces of the Kurdish autonomous region of northern Iraq were given formal responsibility for security throughout Kurdistan. They said the agreement, under U.S. auspices, was signed between the Kurdistan government and Baghdad.

On Oct. 14, the Kurdish government said the agreement in principle was signed with the Iraqi Defense Ministry. Officials said the so-called Kurdish Peshmerga would take responsibility over Kurdistan, Middle East Newsline reported.

A Kurdish government statement said the initial accord would require the approval of Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani. The statement did not say when this would take place.

Officials said three Kurdish brigades have been deployed along the Iraqi borders with Iran and Turkey. The Peshmerga have been regarded as allies of the United States and often fought against the former Saddam Hussein regime.