ISIS
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Turkey's illegal renditions of Syrian nationals back in spotlight / Amberin Zaman
Critics say the arrest of Syrian citizens and their extradition to Turkey violates Turkish and international humanitarian law.
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Is Kurdistan the new flashpoint?*
Kurdistan is back in the news. Military clashes broke out at the beginning of this month between the Kurdistan Development Party (KDP) – the region’s biggest political party – and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
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Rocket attack hits US base in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria region
The US military has confirmed a rocket attack against one of its bases in Syria.
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Australian envoy meets Nechirvan Barzani in visit to Kurdistan Region
The Australian Ambassador-Designate to Iraq, Paula Ganly, who has visited the Kurdistan Region for the first time since presenting her credentials in Iraq met the region's President, Nechirvan Barzani, earlier Tuesday, June 29.
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Kurds would lose in case foreign powers withdraw from Syria, former diplomat tells Kurdpress
The Kurds in Syria would lose their leverage if foreign powers leave the war-torn country, Dr. Nikolaos van Dam, the former Dutch special envoy to Syria and an expert on Syria affairs, told Kurdpress.
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HDP staffers death: time for Turkey to decide on what kind of future it wants / Nurcan Baysal
Deniz Poyraz, an employee with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) İzmir headquarters was killed in an armed attack on the party’s head office in the western province on June 17. We understand from photos shared on social media that 27-year-old assailant Onur Gencer had in the past went to fight in Syria. We do not know yet whether he received training from the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) or Turkish government-sponsored paramilitary SADAT Defense Consultancy.
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U.S. envoy warns about ISIS resurgence in Iraq and Syria
The U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition, John Godfrey, expressed concern towards the threats of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, laying emphasis on supporting the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army to deter those threats and achieve stability in the Region.
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ISIS claims responsibility for attack on HSD in Hajjin
The ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on a car belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces in Hajjin, east of Deir ez-Zor in Syria.
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US seeking to cut forces, batteries in Middle East
The Pentagon is cutting the number of troops and air defense units deployed to the Middle East, confirming a Wall Street Journal report that eight Patriot batteries are being moved out from the region.
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Military advisor warns ISIS is able to attack areas around Kirkuk
The military adviser to the co-presidents of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) warned that the ISIS has reorganized itself in Iraq and is capable of attacking areas around Kirkuk.
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PUK co-president meets Iranian envoy in Baghdad
During a meeting with the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) co-president stressed on the need to expand and strengthen friendly relations between the party and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Mayor blames lack of cooperation in Shingal despite October deal
The major forces present in Shingal are not working in coordination and demanded that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraq’s federal government do more to implement the security and governance agreement signed last October, Shingal district Mayor Mahma Khalil said on Monday, May 31.
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U.S. cuts defence funding to anti-ISIS Kurdish-led fighters in Syria
U.S. President Joe Biden’s defence budget for 2022 will cut funding to the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) and other groups fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
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Iraq army official denies Peshmerga returned to Kirkuk
A spokesman for the Commander in Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasoul, denied media reports claiming Kurdish Peshmerga forces had returned to Kirkuk in northern Iraq.
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Global Coalition is concerned about lack of unity and organization among Peshmerga forces: vice president
The Kurdistan Region Vice President stated that the global coalition against ISIS is concerned about the lack of unity and organization of the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region.
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Official says Peshmerga will not return to Kirkuk
No decision has been made for the Peshmerga to return to Kirkuk amid moves to improve coordination with Baghdad, Deputy Chief of Staff of Peshmerga Training and Operations Major General, Qaraman Kamal, said on Saturday, May 22.
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Peshmerga forces to return to Kirkuk next week: source
The Peshmerga forces will start returning to Kirkuk starting next week, a military source said on Saturday, May 22.
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US delegation expresses support for Syrian Kurds
A high-level US delegation visited Syria Kurdistan, emphasizing its support for the Kurds and maintaining stability in the self-ruling administration.
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Iraqi Defense Minister visits Kirkuk today
Iraq’s Minister of Defense Juma Inad arrived in Kirkuk on Thursday, May 20, for meetings with the governor and senior security officials.
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Time for mutiny over Turkey’s bounties on Kurdish leaders / Meredith Tax
Why is the Biden administration blindly following Donald Trump’s policy of propping up Turkey’s authoritarian president?
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Minister says good understanding reached between Peshmerga and Iraqi army
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorsh Esmail said on Thursday, May 13, that the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Security Forces have reached a "good understanding" on how to combat militants operating in the disputed areas.
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Qassem al-Araji meets Masoud Barzani in Saladin
The Iraqi National Security Adviser, Qassem al-Araji, and his accompanying delegation had a meeting with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Masoud Barzani on Sunday in Saladin resort in Erbil.
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Islamic State takes border station in Iraqi desert with 'drug smuggling wali' / Shelly Kittleson
Orders to arrest three Iraqi border guard commanders in late April after positions were abandoned and equipment and weaponry were left to alleged Islamic State (IS) attackers seemed to show seriousness on the part of the government but also fostered concern.
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Syrian Kurds expect US could stay in Syria regardless of who is president
A Syrian Kurdish official said on Thursday, May 6, that she hopes the United States will keep its forces in the region in the future no matter who is president.
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US delegation meets Masoud Barzani in Erbil
A joint high-level delegation from the White House, US departments of State and Defense, met the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Saladin resort in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.
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Kurdish officials warn Turkey aims to occupy the whole of Iraqi Kurdistan
Turkey aims to occupy the whole of Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish officials warned on Tuesday, as the world remains largely silent on the Nato member state’s latest illegal military operation.
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Lahur Talabani warns deadly attacks in Iraq would rekindle ISIS resurgent
A senior Kurdish official has said there are growing indications that Islamic State (ISIS) is trying to make a comeback after an increase in attacks in Iraq.
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ISIS conducted at least 12 attacks in Iraq disputed areas: Peshmerga secretary general
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs Jabar Yawar said on Monday, May3, that Islamic State (ISIS) militants conducted at least twelve attacks in the disputed areas since Saturday.
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A delegation of US officials meet Iraqi PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met with a delegation of US officials in Baghdad on Tuesday, May 4, the first time that officials from the Biden administration have formally visited Iraq.
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Suspected ISIS militants blow up oil well in Kirkuk
Suspected ISIS gunmen on Saturday detonated explosive devices at an oil well in Kirkuk province in northern Iraq, according to a local police officer.