Iraq's oilfields in the disputed Kirkuk region have taken on new significance after the United States restored oil sanctions against neighbouring Iran. Washington is pressuring Baghdad to resume exports that stopped last year. Iraq aims to raise its export capacity to 8.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in the coming years
Tag: kurds
Kurds near Turkey border dread fresh offensive
ASHMA: Chimo Osman’s children stopped going to school after Turkish shelling struck his home in northeastern Syria, where Kurdish residents fear another military onslaught is imminent. In recent days, cross-border Turkish artillery fire has targeted positions held by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main Kurdish militia in Syria. Ankara sees the
For the sake of peace, get out of Syria
In his customary deceitful way, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sought to portray Iran as a pleasant country, ready for dialogue with stubborn and hard-line Saudi Arabia. He told an audience at the Munich security conference last week: "We believe there is nothing in our region that would exclude Iran and
Iraqi Kurds vote in regional election
Kurds voted in a parliamentary election in their semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq on Sunday, with the two dominant parties widely expected to extend their power sharing rule despite growing discontent. The poll comes a year after the region of six million made a failed bid to break away from the
Leading candidates in Turkish politics vow to send Syrian refugees home
By Middle East Affairs Responding to growing unease among worried Turks who fear for the economic stability of their country, President Erdogan and his rival have both campaigned on a platform to send refugees home. Since the start of the Syrian war, more than 3.5 million refugees have settled in Turkey, they