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Iraqi Kurdistan more vulnerable to Al-Qaeda attacks

The war in Syria, including the spread of radical Islamist terrorists, is spilling over into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
A Kurdish security forces member stands guard outside a polling station after its closing in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region, about 350 km (217 miles) north of Baghdad, September 21, 2013.  Iraqi Kurds voted on Saturday for a new parliament that analysts said was poised to lead the oil-producing region further down the road to greater autonomy from Baghdad. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari  (IRAQ - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTX13TNL
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On Nov. 3, the Kurdish security forces prevented another suicide attack on the security headquarters building in Akre, Dahuk, arresting two Syrians who were members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The security operation shows the Kurdish security forces' vigilance, and it also indicates that the Syrian war has increased security risks for the Iraqi Kurds, who have managed to keep their region safe from attacks for six years.

Reports suggest that the Iraqi Kurdish border security has been tightened and that some Iraqi Arabs who want to visit Iraqi Kurdistan are turned away. The increased security threat to Iraqi Kurdistan is linked to the empowerment of al-Qaeda as a result of the civil war in Syria. Despite this, the Kurdish security forces are well-prepared to prevent any threat to the security of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and have increased security measures to prevent any attack.

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