Kurdistan

The dangers of an Islamic State resurgence in Iraq and Kurdistan

Just last week, Islamic State gunmen executed 20 Iraqi’s belonging to the Shamari tribe in the town of Baaj. The Islamic State is far from finished in the region and pockets of resistance exist within Iraq as small sleeper cells that are striking terror into civilians and security forces alike. Iraqi officials have warned the local […]

Turkey’s ban on flights to and from Sulaymaniyah airport in Iraqi-Kurdistan continues

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has recognized the need to confront the flight ban by the Turkish government into the Iraqi-Kurdistan Sulaymaniyah International Airport. Sulaymaniyah provincial governor Haval Abubakr met with Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority over the weekend to discuss the issue and seek assistance. Iraqi officials have agreed to bring up the issue with the Turkish […]

Peshmerga reform is a necessary and imminent change that Iraqi-Kurdistan must embrace

The Kurdistan Regional Government is working with the Ministry of Peshmerga and United States-led coalition to officially reform the Peshmerga into a unified fighting force, despite political differences. Acting Minister Karim Sinjari confirmed this to local media this week, saying that the 70th and 80th forces will eventually be joined with the Ministry of Peshmerga, forming […]

Turkish political parties meet in private to discuss imprisoned Ministers of Parliament

The Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) sent a delegation to meet with Turkish parliament speaker (and former prime minister) Binali Yildirim this week to discuss the imprisonment of two Ministers of Parliament that represent the HDP. The two ministers, Leyla Guven and Enis Berberoglu, were jailed for terrorism-related charges despite having parliamentary immunity. The HDP released a post-meeting statement […]

Kurdish political parties are re-electing current Ministers of Parliament

In total the various Kurdish political parties have nominated a total of 24 Ministers of Parliament (MP) to return to office post-election. While many have claimed they do not wish to return to office, they have been nominated for the task yet again regardless. A total of six were nominated by the Patriotic Union of […]

A growing number of villages in Kirkuk, Iraq are being evacuated

Since Kirkuk was turned over to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and paramilitary militias in October 2017, a total of 30 villages in the region have been evacuated; either because of the threat of Islamic State insurgents or anti-Kurdish sentiments. The mayor of Dibis, a territory within the Kirkuk region, Abdullah Nuradin told local media that, There are […]

United States envoy works with Iraqi leaders to secure future government

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met with Envoy Brett McGurk this week to discuss the obligation for “more serious dialogue”  in regards to the new Iraqi government being formed by the freshly elected parliament members. Both men understood and were adamant about “the need for more serious dialogue among political parties for the formation of a […]

Oil pirates in Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is resolute in solving the issue of illegal oil refineries operating within the Iraqi-Kurdistan region. The Ministry of Oil and Gas released a statement that read, These refineries have caused great damage to the environment and health. Examples from Erbil and Sulaimani were discussed where refineries have caused great damage […]

Kurdish Peshmerga are added to next year’s National Defense Authorization Act

The Kurdish Peshmerga military forces have been added to the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Peshmerga had been left out of an earlier draft, and this had drawn concern from various parties, citing Iraq’s withholding of Kurdish shares in the past. On several occasions, the Iraqi government has withheld U.S. aid from Kurdistan’s military […]

Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi Army destroy the Islamic State in Makhmour operation

Islamic State occupied territory near Makhmour, a region that shares a border with Iraq and Kurdistan, was cleared out earlier this week by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Kurdish Peshmerga working unilaterally with coalition air support. Operation Inherent Resolve coalition spokesperson Colonel Sean Ryan expressed great delight at the achievement, given the circumstances. The cooperation between the […]

The United States is still working to modernize the Kurdish Peshmerga

According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga, the United States will be assisting in the inclusion of two new Peshmerga brigades this year; they will be providing weapons, training, and vehicles. The Ministry’s secretary general, Lieutenant General Jabar Yawar, told local Kurdish media that, “Many times, due to disclosing the type and amount […]

Japan will be reworking Iraqi-Kurdistan’s electrical grid over the next 10 years

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) intends to improve its electrical grid through partnerships with Japanese agencies, organizations, and companies. The news comes only a week after the KRG admitted that the autonomous region was suffering from crippling power outages that needed to be remedied promptly. The KRG Prime Minister stated that, We are thanking the […]