Peshmerga

Car bomb rocks Kirkuk as electoral campaigning begins for Iraq

A bodyguard was killed in Kirkuk today when a car bomb exploded that was presumably intended for a passing politician’s convoy. Other members of the group were reported to be wounded with varying levels severity. At last count there were 12 injured and 1 killed. The attack happened in the Khazrayi district that is situated in the […]

The old guard does not want new political parties forming in Kurdistan

As politicians prepare to begin campaigning for a chance to be chosen for a seat in Iraq’s parliament in Kurdistan and future elections, many have strong feeling towards the current state of affairs in the nation. Mala Bakhtiar, a high-ranking member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party, believes that the PUK and KDP […]

Kirkuk residents flee their homes in fear of ISIS resurgence

Kirkuk residents are fleeing their homes in the belief that the Islamic State will re-emerge due to the lack of security forces in the region. Residents say that Islamic State militants infiltrate their villages during the night to procure food and supplies, threatening villagers lives and forcing them to flee. For those that refuse to […]

KRG has little hope for Kirkuk elections

Members of the Kurdish Regional government are doubtful that their presence in Kirkuk will be reinforced by votes due to the absence of a Kurdish presence in the region. Others believe that due to the increase in Shiite influence in Kirkuk will lead to corruption. Head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s Kirkuk branch, Mohammed Othman said, “Kurds […]

Peshmerga deny they are being sent back to Kirkuk

The Secretary-General for the Ministry of Peshmerga, Jabar Yawar, has refuted the claims that the Kurdish Peshmerga will be deployed to the disputed area of Kirkuk to assist Iraqi Security forces. Yawar stated during a press confrence that, “So far there has been no official meeting between KRG’s Ministry of Peshmerga and Iraq’s Ministry of Defense or between […]

Russian alliance accuses the U.S. of failing in Syria

Officials from Iran and Russia have heavily critiqued United States foreign policy in regards to Syria, making accusations that the U.S. cares not for defeating the Islamic State but are instead pursue ulterior motives in the form of economic gain. Russia’s Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, implied that the United States had failed in the war […]

Peshmerga will return to Kirkuk and work with Iraqi forces

As the Islamic State increases their frequency of terror attacks in Kirkuk, the Iraqi Army will soon reluctantly be conducting joint security operations with the Kurdish Peshmerga thanks to pressure from the United States led coalition. High ranking Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official, Rawand Mullah Mahmood, made it known that the United States is encouraging […]

Two Kurdish security officers injured in Turkish airstrike

Two members of Iraqi Kurdistan’s secret police, the Asayesh a organizations tasked with national security, were wounded by a Turkish airstrike in Semalka. Semalka is a Syria/Kurdistan border crossing outside of Duhok that has now been closed in the aftermath of the strike. Heavy bombardments from artillery and Turkish war planes have been experienced with […]

Manbij prepares for the Turkish military’s attack

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now begun threatening to conquer the Kurdish city of Manbij in northern Syria. Manbij is the staging area for a large portion of the Syrian Democratic Forces as well as the United States military. Two coalition service members (a Delta Force and SAS soldier) were recently killed there by […]

PKK leave Sinjar under threat of Turkish invasion

With the threat of Turkish military aggression and airstrikes looming over northern Kurdistan, the PKK based out of Sinjar have made the decision to withdraw from the region at the demand of the Iraqi government in an effort to protect the Yezidi and Kurdish citizens there. According to Sinjar’s governor, Mehma Xelil, made it clear that […]

Hashd al-Shaabi raid ISIS terror cells

An Iraqi Federal Police anti-terror unit conducted a raid along side Hashd al-Shaabi forces last week against Islamic State sleeper cells in several villages near the city of Kirkuk. During the raid, one ISIS collaborator (a shepherd) was killed and  5 ISIS militants were arrested. The operation was executed at night. According to reports, Hashd al-Shaabi fighters went […]

Peshmerga look to conduct joint security operations with Iraqi forces

The Peshmerga are prepared to conduct joint security operations alongside Iraqi counter parts according to officials with the Kurdish security forces. The move to unify their forces comes during the aftermath of the Islamic State conflict. Now that the caliphate has collapsed, ISIS forces are reverting to sleeper cells and insugency based tactics. A series […]