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Light fighting has erupted between Peshmerga forces and Hashd al-Shaabi overnight in Kirkuk, leading to an unconfirmed amount of deaths. Tensions are high as shots have also been fired within the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk. All sides are calling for calm and restraint. Crisis talks on Sunday failed to resolve the standoff as Kurdish leaders […]
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No clashes yet as tensions between the Iraqi forces and Iranian backed Hashd al-Shaabi and the Kurdish Peshmerga in Kirkuk keep escalating. Despite rumors of an imminent attack by the Iraqi security forces on the Kurdish forces in the southern province of Kirkuk, thousands of volunteers have gone to the front lines in case war […]
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Tensions are flaring as rumors of a possible attack by Iraqi forces on Kurdistan spread on Wednesday evening. Former Iraqi Minister Hoshyar Zebari confirmed there were “abnormal movements” by the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi group near Peshmerga held areas. However, the Kurdish leadership has not sound the alarm yet and urged people to remain calm as […]
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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has rejected any calls for negotiation, mediation, or initiative with Erbil that includes discussing the Kurdistan referendum without first cancelling the results. During his weekly press conference, Abadi said any talks with the Kurdistan Region must respect three conditions that are not up for negotiation: the unity of Iraq, the […]
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Baghdad trouble brewing as influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters vowed to hold a million-man march to storm the Iraqi Parliament “again” if the term of the elections commission was extended. In a statement on Monday, the Central Revolution Committee affiliated to Sadr warned the Independent High Electoral Commission’s (IHEC) they had one more chance […]
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More travel headaches coming. The United States has suspended all non-immigrant visa services in Turkey due to security concerns after Ankara arrested a Turkish national employed by the US consulate. Turkey quickly retaliated with a similar move, by suspending in-passport visas as well as e-visas and visas issued at the borders for American passport holders. […]
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There might be light at the end of the tunnel already. The Kurdistan Region President and two of Iraq’s Vice-Presidents on Saturday agreed on holding talks to resolve the issues between Baghdad and Erbil. President Masoud Barzani met with VPs Ayad Allawi and Osama al-Nujaifi in Sulaimani on Saturday where they had gathered to attend […]
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Opposition unites as Turkish President Erdogan met with his Iranian counterpart, President Rouhani, yesterday and announced they will not accept changing the borders in the region. They warned they would isolate the Kurdistan Region, the same day Baghdad confirmed it would no longer sell dollars to four Kurdish-owned banks. Nevertheless, Iraqi and Peshmerga Forces are […]
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Kurdistan continues to mourn the loss of Jalal Talabani who died yesterday at the age of 83. In a televised speech, President Masoud Barzani declared one week of mourning across the Kurdistan Region for the former Iraqi President. Mam Jalal is survived by his wife Hero Talabani and his sons, Qubad and Bafel. Our heartfelt […]
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An explosion in Damascus killed a number of policemen and civilians in what turned out to be a twin suicide bomb attack in the Syrian capital. Interior Minister Mohammed Shaar said one assailant blew himself up at the main entrance to a police station in the central Midan district. A second detonated his explosive belt […]
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