PUK leader Talabani withdraws from regional government, deals blow to Kurds globally The rupture could unravel the semi-autonomous region, which Iraq’s 2005 constitution recognized as a federal entity with strong US backing. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Exclusive Iraq's Kurds air fury over PM Sudani's stance after attack on gas field “We were shocked at Sudani’s audacity. Imagine the state we would have been in had he gotten his way,” a senior Iraqi Kurdish official speaking not for attribution told Al-Monitor. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Grenade attack on IRGC kills 2 in Iran’s Kurdistan province: What to know The deadly assault comes amid recurring tensions and clashes in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region. Iran
Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum The decision comes after the high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi officials in Baghdad. Turkey
Analysis Iran strikes Iraqi Kurdistan again, warns of possible ground operation By Shelly Kittleson In Middle East, reporting on regional politics
Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP returns from Erbil with no news on PKK talks A delegation from Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party paid a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan that many Kurds hoped would lead to renewed dialogue between Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, but nothing concrete seems to have yet emerged. Turkey
Pentagon fears Islamic State surge in Iraqi Kurdistan The Donald Trump administration is concerned that the Islamic State could take advantage of ongoing disputes between Iraq’s government and Kurdish authorities to gain refuge in the war-torn country. Iraq
Iraqi population census raises concerns of Kurds Kurds and Turkmens in Kirkuk are concerned that the Iraqi population census, set to be held in 2020, could be used for political ends. Iraq
Ninevah sheikh and ex-commander warn of ‘IS family camp dangers’ Nearly two years after its liberation from the Islamic State, Ninevah province is still struggling to deal with IS-linked displaced people. Iraq
Iraqi decision to remove Shabak PMU from Ninevah Plains stirs conflict A dispute over the presence of Popular Mobilization Units in the Ninevah Plains raises concerns about the recurrence of conflict in the area. Iraq
Meet the agency that brought World Press Photo's images to Iraq World Press Photo Foundation has launched an exhibition in Iraq for the first time thanks to the efforts of one pioneering photo agency which wanted to realize the dream of its founder. Iraq
Three princes compete for Yazidi leadership to succeed late prince Following the appointment of a new Yazidi emir, two other Yazidi leaders announced themselves as new emirs. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Will Iraqi Kurdistan government be able to solve PKK issue? Despite their deep rivalry, both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) emphasize the importance of dealing with their longstanding conflicts peacefully. Iraq
Oil, budgets, Kirkuk still nag Baghdad-Erbil relations Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan representatives have held a series of high-level meetings to try to resolve their longstanding issues, but so far without much apparent success. Iraq
US sanctions on a Christian militiaman reignite conflict among Iraqi Christians As the United States imposes sanctions on a Christian militiaman, conflict among Iraqi Christians flares up. Iraq
More victims of Saddam's purge found, Kurds seek justice The recent discovery of additional mass graves of Iraqi Kurds is prompting renewed calls for collaborators with the former Iraqi regime to be prosecuted. Iraq
Iraqi Kurds actively support Ankara’s fight against the PKK Spurred by the killing of a Turkish Consulate staffer in Erbil last month, the Iraqi Kurdish administration is stepping up its cooperation with Turkey to rein in PKK activities in northern Iraq. Turkey
