Kurdistan

Six people freeze to death on the Turkish border

Human trafficking is a big business in Kurdistan, the travel ban and continual state of chaos that the Kurdish region finds itself in are motivation enough for people to want to flee the “country”. Smuggling is a booming business and the men who facilitate these activities are always on hand. In terms of Iraqi Kurdistan […]

Kurdistan flight ban gets extended

An international flight ban (local flights are unaffected) in Kurdistan was put in place by the Iraqi government shortly after the Kurdish referendum vote for independence. The Iraqi government backed proxy forces of Hasdt al-Shaabi and the Iranian PMU militias had just taken control of Kirkuk as well. In a way, the airport ban was […]

United States releases Peshmerga salaries to the KRG

According to the Kurdish Regional government’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Peshmerga, Jabar Yawar, the United States has begun paying the Peshmerga’s monthly salaries with an allocated fund of $365 million. Yawar told local media during a press release, “This year, the US will assist the Peshmerga with $365 million contribution. It’s expected these funds […]

Assad regime forces enter Afrin to aid Kurdish SDF

Pro Syrian Regime forces entered the city of Afrin last week under the request of the SDF (Syrian Defense Forces) and YPG to help them fight the Turkish armed forces at their doorstep. Over the course of a week 3 convoys packed with fighters and weapons have arrived in the city. The fighters will be […]

Iraq is ranked among the world’s most corrupt countries

Transparency International is a Berlin based organization that has bestowed upon Iraq a corruption ranking of 169th out of 180 different countries. The report was filed yesterday and it comes as no surprise given Iraq’s propensity for extortion on any given level of authority or government. Turkey was ranked 81, Iran was 130, and Syria […]

Iraq declares intentions for Kurdistan flight ban.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told press that he will only lift the flight ban for Kurdistan if the conditions put forth are met. He said, “If the conditions are met, I will open [the airports] tomorrow. If the conditions are not met, they will not be opened in five years or even 10 years. I […]

Hasdt al-Shaabi combats remnants of ISIS

On Sunday Hasdt al-Shaabi forces began anti-terror operations in southwest Kirkuk, where they engaged a substantial force of Islamic State fighters. In the course of the battle, 27 Hasdt al-Shaabi were killed or captured in the province of Hawija over the span of several days. The operation was in an effort to combat known ISIS […]

3 YPG foreign fighters die fighting Turkey

Three of the foreign fighters to rally to the call for international support from Rojava have been killed fighting Turkish military Forces. Turkish forces began their assault against the Syrian Democratic Forces in January this year and have Killed a number of SDF fighters as well as civilians as a result. The offensive was launched […]

Kurdish PUK plans restructuring of party

In an effort to create a inclusive structuring for the newest generation of Kurds, the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) is planning a major overhaul of their political party. Plans to overhaul the party were proposed in light of the upcoming congress to be held among its members. On Thursday acting head of the PUK, […]

KRG sends delegation to inspect Rojava hospitals

A delegation of Prime Ministers from Kurdish Regional Government has just concluded their tour of Rojava’s (northern Syrian Kurdistan) hospitals. They found that the hospitals were all heavily understaffed and overwhelmed with patients or casualties from the conflict in Afrin. Head of the delegation, Alio Halo, said, “Unfortunately, the sound of artillery and tank shelling can […]

Iraq sends delegation to inspect potential border crossing with Iran

Iraqi Kurdistan has an unofficial border crossing with Iran in the far Southeast recesses of of it’s territory that is set to be inspected by a ministry delegation. It is in doing this that the governing body for  the Halabja province hopes that the crossing will eventually become recognized as a official border point of […]

Iraq demands Kirkuk government be divided ethnically

In a brash demand from the Iraqi government, they have ordered the political parties and governing officials in Kirkuk to restructure all government posts based on ethnicity in one month’s time. The division of personnel would be a three-part split (32%) of Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds, with the remaining 4% left to Christian minorities. The […]