LAST NEWS ABOUT KIRKUK/ KURDISTAN

[Anthea]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussed the recent events in Kurdistan Region during a phone conversation on Wednesday.

Putin has held a telephone conversation with Netanyahu to discuss the Syria issue, Iran’s nuclear program and the results of the referendum of the Kurdistan Region, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

"There was a thorough discussion of ways to resolve the Syrian crisis, the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and the results of the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan," the statement reads, as quoted by TASS.

According to Kremlin, the telephone conversation between Putin and Netanyahu was initiated by Israel.

The conversation comes following the military incursion of the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi against Kirkuk Province which has been protected by the Peshmerga forces since the Iraqi army abandoned it ahead of Islamic State’s attack on Iraq.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/new ... tan/386426

[Piling]

For obvious reasons, Israël does not want that Kurdistan fall under Iran's occupation.

[Anthea]

Kurdish forces withdraw to June 2014 lines - Iraqi army commander

Kurdish Peshmerga forces have retreated to positions they held in northern Iraq in June 2014 in response to an Iraqi army advance into the region after a Kurdish independence referendum, a senior Iraqi commander said on Wednesday.

An Iraqi military statement said government forces had taken control of Kurdish-held areas of Nineveh province, including the Mosul hydro-electric dam, on Tuesday after the Peshmerga pulled back. On Monday, Baghdad’s forces recaptured the major oil city of Kirkuk to the south shortly after the Peshmerga abandoned it.

The Peshmerga had advanced into Nineveh and the Kirkuk region over the past three years as part of the war against Islamic State militants, filling a void left by a temporary collapse of the Iraqi army in the face of an IS onslaught.

“As of today we reversed the clock back to 2014,” the Iraqi army commander, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. There was no immediate comment from Kurdish leaders.

The territory taken by the Peshmerga as it rolled back Islamic State was outside the official boundaries of the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), mainly in Kurdish-populated areas claimed historically by the Kurds.

With this week’s withdrawals from disputed territories, Peshmerga forces appeared to have re-deployed roughly along the KRG’s boundaries.

Iran and Turkey joined the Baghdad government in condemning the Iraqi Kurds’ Sept. 25 referendum, worried it could worsen regional instability and conflict by encouraging their own Kurdish populations to push for homelands.

With the referendum having given Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi a political opening to regain contested land and shift the balance of power in his favour, it may prove a gamble that makes the KRG’s quest for statehood more elusive.

Around 61,200 people were displaced Iraq’s military operation in and around Kirkuk, a city of over 1 million, over the past 48 hours but most were now returning to their homes, the U.N. humanitarian affairs office in Baghdad said.

Witnesses said, however, that dozens of Kurdish families began to flee Kirkuk on Wednesday for Sulaimaniya inside the KRG for fear of attack by Shi‘ite Popular Mobilisation paramilitaries, allied with Baghdad and armed by Iran, that had entered the city along with government forces.

“We have a family member with the Peshmerga and we are afraid we might get arrested by the Popular Mobilisation. We are fleeing towards Sulaimaniya,” said the driver of one car filled with his family.

At least 150 vehicles were seen streaming out of Kirkuk at one point. But most subsequently turned around and returned home after local police assured them that fears of reprisals were groundless, a Reuters reporter said.

Though Kurdish-owned shops in Kirkuk were mainly closed on Wednesday due to concern about the presence of Shi‘ite militia, there were no reports of serious incidents as federal security forces patrolled the streets, witnesses said.

“We call on all parties to do everything possible to shield and protect all civilians impacted by the current situation,” Lisa Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, said.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideas ... KKBN1CN0Y8

[Anthea]

Reports: Hashd al-Shaabi withdraws from disputed areas

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Hashd al-Shaabi has withdrawn its forces from urban areas in a number of towns it took from the Kurdish Peshmerga since Monday.

There are local reports of the Hashd paramilitary units withdrawing from all disputed areas, including in Khanaqin, Shingal, and Jalawla.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi requested all armed forces leave the urban areas in Kirkuk except for the Iraqi army and the federal police. It is not clear whether the order was also extended to all of the other areas.

Kurdish Peshmerga have said they withdrew to all areas they controlled before the Mosul offensive in June 2014.

The Peshmerga lost control of the oil-rich Kirkuk on Monday after a coordinated attack by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi.

Early on Thursday morning, people in Kurdish cities have come out celebrating the withdrawal of the Shiite forces, many waving the flag of Kurdistan

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/19102017

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Uprising in Khaneqin, Kirkuk, Kosret Rasul states that the liberation of the city is for soon.

[Anthea]

Kurdish forces still control Khurmala oil field northwest of Kirkuk

Kurdish forces have not withdrawn from the Khurmala oil field, northwest of Kirkuk, Erbil-based Rudaw TV said on Thursday, citing a Peshmerga commander.

Khurmala is part of the geological structure of the Kirkuk oil basin. It was developed by the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government as it lies in its administrative boundaries.

Iraqi forces on Monday seized the Kirkuk province from Kurdish forces who deployed there in 2014.

http://www.kitco.com/news/2017-10-19/Ku ... uk-TV.html

[Anthea]

Iraqi court issues arrest warrant for Kurdish Vice President Rasul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Higher Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Kurdish Vice President Kosrat Rasul for describing the Iraqi forces in Kirkuk as “invaders,” Iraqi State TV reported on Thursday.

It was reported that he would be charged with article 226 of the Iraqi penal code that will have a maximum sentence of seven years in prison for inciting violence against Iraqi forces.

VP Rasul was in Kirkuk when the Iraqi forces attacked the oil-rich city on Monday. Dozens of his Peshmerga forces were killed.

He described the Iraqi military operation in Kirkuk by Iraq as another Anfal or Kurdish genocide

I AGREE THE IRAQ MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST KIRKUK WAS AN INVASION

Kirkuk, and many other areas, was forcefully stolen from the Kurds by Saddam and now many Kurds have managed to get their property back, Iraq wants to steal it AGAIN

[Piling]

Iraq is a joke…

Interesting analysis (I don't know if the hypothesis is true but if it's the case, Kurds are becoming tricky like Chinese masters of strategy

[Piling]

Clashes in Khanaqin, some casualties, number uncertain.

[dyaoko]

Every kurds needs to support Xanaqin, The Shia Kurds of Xanaqin are a great proof that Kurds are a nation, they are not a tribe, they are not limitted to a relligion. like the iraqi government.

toady in Xanaqin shia kurds are being killed by Iraqi-Shia-Militias, or we better call them The Shia-ISIS.
https://twitter.com/BaxtiyarGoran/statu ... 9965062144

[Anthea]

Iraqi-Shia-Militias

From what I know of their behavior in the recent past - I believe the Shia Militias to be as savage as ISIS with very little difference between them - both the Shia Militias and ISIS remind me of the Turkish savages who delighted in killing THOUSANDS of Kurds in Dersim in 1938

[Anthea]

UN concerned of looting, forced displacement of Kurds from Kirkuk, Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations is concerned about reports of violence, looting, and forced displacement of civilians from Khurmatu and Kirkuk, largely being committed against the Kurdish populations and some Turkmen in these disputed areas.

“The United Nations has received allegations of the burning of about 150 houses in Tuz Khurmatu on 16 and 17 October, by armed groups. There were also allegations that up to 11 houses which reportedly belonged to Kurdish families and officials of Kurdish political parties were destroyed by explosives in the city. There were also reports of attacks against political offices of Turkmen parties in the Kirkuk Governorate,” read a statement from the UN in Iraq, UNAMI, on Thursday.

The UN urged Baghdad to take action to prevent such violence, protect all civilians, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Tens of thousands of civilians fled Kirkuk as Iraqi forces took control of the city on Monday. On Tuesday the UN reported 61,200 had been displaced but the majority had already begun to return. In subsequent days, however, a second wave of civilians has fled the city, fearing violence and looting at the hands of the Shiite forces.

The body's refugee agency, UNHCR, stated on Thursday that "most families fled to Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok governorates" and "the majority" are being hosted by relatives and the host community.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations is concerned about reports of violence, looting, and forced displacement of civilians from Khurmatu and Kirkuk, largely being committed against the Kurdish populations and some Turkmen in these disputed areas.

“The United Nations has received allegations of the burning of about 150 houses in Tuz Khurmatu on 16 and 17 October, by armed groups. There were also allegations that up to 11 houses which reportedly belonged to Kurdish families and officials of Kurdish political parties were destroyed by explosives in the city. There were also reports of attacks against political offices of Turkmen parties in the Kirkuk Governorate,” read a statement from the UN in Iraq, UNAMI, on Thursday.

The UN urged Baghdad to take action to prevent such violence, protect all civilians, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Tens of thousands of civilians fled Kirkuk as Iraqi forces took control of the city on Monday. On Tuesday the UN reported 61,200 had been displaced but the majority had already begun to return. In subsequent days, however, a second wave of civilians has fled the city, fearing violence and looting at the hands of the Shiite forces.

The body's refugee agency, UNHCR, stated on Thursday that "most families fled to Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok governorates" and "the majority" are being hosted by relatives and the host community.

Up to 1,000 families from Zummar arrived in Duhok city, Sumel, and Zakho, according to the UNHCR which added its staff oberserved "large numbers of families returning home."

In Sulaimani, two displacement camps distributed non-food items to IDPs in the Garmiyan district. Additionally around 200 families received distributions in Surdash camp with many of those IDPs coming from Tuz Khurmatu after "reports of buildings being set alight and looted."

UNHCR added that some IDPs have also gone to the Kifri district in Diyala governorate.

“There has been considerable displacement in the past few days as people fled pre-emptively, fearing clashes. We anticipate that the majority of families will return to their homes in the coming days, however, there will be groups who are likely to remain displaced and will need ongoing help”, said UNHCR’s deputy representative, Leila Jane Nassif.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged all sides to refrain from the use of force and engage in dialogue.

Up to 1,000 families from Zummar arrived in Duhok city, Sumel, and Zakho, according to the UNHCR which added its staff oberserved "large numbers of families returning home."

In Sulaimani, two displacement camps distributed non-food items to IDPs in the Garmiyan district. Additionally around 200 families received distributions in Surdash camp with many of those IDPs coming from Tuz Khurmatu after "reports of buildings being set alight and looted."

UNHCR added that some IDPs have also gone to the Kifri district in Diyala governorate.

“There has been considerable displacement in the past few days as people fled pre-emptively, fearing clashes. We anticipate that the majority of families will return to their homes in the coming days, however, there will be groups who are likely to remain displaced and will need ongoing help”, said UNHCR’s deputy representative, Leila Jane Nassif.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged all sides to refrain from the use of force and engage in dialogue.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/191020176

[Anthea]

KRG decides to negotiate with Baghdad government

In a Statement, the Government of Southern Kurdistan announced it will return to Baghdad and initiate talks within Iraqi constitutional framework

The Government of Southern Kurdistan stated that it is ready to return to Baghdad and hold talks based on the “framework of the Iraqi constitution”.

Following a meeting under the lead of the Prime Minister of the Government of Southern Kurdistan, Necirvan Barzani, the Council of Ministers announced accepting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi’s call for dialogue in order to solve the current crisis.

Regarding the fact that the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi have taken over many so called “disputed regions” in Southern Kurdistan, including Kirkuk, the Council came to the decision that the call for dialogue will be accepted.

KRG's Council of Ministers made the following statement after the meeting on Thursday:

“The Kurdistan Region’s Council of Ministers is willing to accept the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi’s call for dialogue and negotiations over the problems between Hewler and Baghdad within the framework of the constitutional framework of Iraq and based on alliance and togetherness.

At the same time we ask the international community to help both sides with the negotiations to be held.”

WHAT HAD ABADI SAID?

After the Referendum, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi had stated that “we are ready for dialogue based on the constitutional framework of Iraq on condition that the Referendum is cancelled”.

WHAT HAD BARZANI SAID?

KDP President Masoud Barzani and the KDP leadership had not accepted that proposal, stating that the referendum will not be cancelled under any circumstances. Barzani had said: “We could go to Baghdad just in order to negotiate the conditions of separation”.

THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN WAS NOT ACCEPTED

U.S. Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk and representatives from Britain, France and the United Nations had met with Barzani in Duhok before the referendum and proposed an alternative plan in order for the independence referendum not to be held. According to that plan, the US and the UN would act as observers.

However, during a speech one hour after that meeting, Barzani had announced in Zakho that he would not accept that proposal. After that, a couple of further meetings with Barzani ended without agreement.

[Anthea]

100,000 Kurds flee Kirkuk since Iraqi army takeover - Kurdish officials

ERBIL, Iraq/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - About 100,000 Kurds have fled the Kirkuk region for fear of persecution since Iraqi armed forces retook disputed territory after a Kurdish independence vote rejected by Baghdad, Kurdish officials said on Thursday.

The United Nations voiced concern at reports that civilians, mainly Kurds, were being driven out of parts of northern Iraq retaken by Iraqi forces and their houses and businesses looted and destroyed, and urged Baghdad to stop any such abuses.

In the first incident of deadly violence, a Kurdish man was killed and six wounded by Iraqi security forces while protesting at the army’s takeover of their town, Khanaqin, by Iraqi forces, local Mayor Mohammed Mulla Hassan said.

Kurdish troops had left Khanaqin, near the border with Iran, on Tuesday to avoid clashing with advancing Iraqi forces.

Central government forces swept into Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic city of more than 1 million people and the hub of a major oil-producing area, largely unopposed on Monday after most Kurdish Peshmerga forces withdrew rather than fight.

Iraqi forces also took back control of Kirkuk oilfields, effectively halving the amount of output under the direct control of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in a serious blow to the Kurds’ independence quest.

Baghdad’s recovery of Kirkuk, situated just outside the KRG’s official boundaries on disputed land claimed by Kurds, ethnic Turkmen and Arabs, put the city’s Kurds in fear of attack by Shi‘ite Muslim paramilitaries, known as Popular Mobilisation, assisting government forces’ operations in the region.

Nawzad Hadi, governor of Erbil, the KRG capital, told reporters that around 18,000 families from Kirkuk and the town of Tuz Khurmato to the southeast had taken refuge in Erbil and Sulaimaniya, inside KRG territory. A Hadi aide told Reuters the total number of displaced people was about 100,000.

Hemin Hawrami, a top aide to KRG President Masoud Barzani, tweeted that people had fled “looting and sectarian oppression” inflicted by Popular Mobilisation militia.

U.N. relief officials said they had received allegations that 150 houses had been burned and 11 blown up in Tuz Khurmato and offices of Turkmen political parties in Kirkuk assaulted.

The U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq issued a statement urging the Baghdad government “to take every action to halt any violations and ensure all civilians are protected and that the perpetrators of acts of violence, intimidation and forced displacement of civilians be brought to justice”.

Khanaqin, mainly populated by Kurds, also lies in long contested territory just outside KRG boundaries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday that security was being maintained in Kirkuk by local police backed by the elite Counter Terrorism Service, trained and equipped by the United States mainly to fight Islamic State militants. “All other armed group should not be allowed to stay,” Abadi said.

Sunni Muslim Kurds comprise the largest community in Kirkuk followed by Sunni and Shi‘ite Muslim Turkmen, Sunni Arabs and Christian Assyrians, according to the Iraqi Planning Ministry.

In another sign of rising tensions, Iraq’s Supreme Justice Council ordered the arrest of KRG Vice President Kosrat Rasul for allegedly saying Iraqi troops were “occupying forces” in Kirkuk.

Iran and Turkey joined the Baghdad government in condemning the Iraqi Kurds’ Sept. 25 referendum, worried it could worsen regional instability and conflict by spurring their own Kurdish populations to push for homelands. The Kurds’ long-time big power ally, the United States, also opposed the vote.

KURDISH LEADERS WELCOME ABADI OFFER OF TALKS

With the referendum having given Abadi a political opening to regain disputed territory and tilt the balance of power in his favour, the KRG cabinet on Thursday welcomed his call for talks to resolve the crisis.

Abadi had said on Tuesday he considered the referendum “a thing of the past”, and asked that the KRG cancel the outcome of the vote as a precondition for negotiations to begin.

In a statement, the KRG cabinet said, “It will not be possible to resolve the issues through military operations”.

It added: “(We have) asked the international community to help both sides start a dialogue to solve the outstanding issues based on the Iraqi constitution.”

KRG Peshmerga forces deployed into Kirkuk in 2014 when Iraqi government forces fell apart in the face of a lightning offensive by Islamic State insurgents, preventing the oilfields from falling into jihadist hands.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideas ... KKBN1CO1R5

[Anthea]

US Senator Ted Cruz Backs Kurds Against Baghdad’s Attack on Kirkuk

US Senator Ted Cruz has warned the Iraqi central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi over taking “hostile actions” against Kurds.

“Prime Minister Abadi and the Government of Iraq must maintain its focus on defeating the Islamic State, and halt all efforts that contribute to a regional escalation against the Kurdish people,” Cruz said in an official statement on Thursday.

“They [Kurds] have demonstrated considerable gallantry in the face of the Islamic State and have more than earned our continued support. Such hostile actions pose a grave threat to the safety of our allies and the stability of the counter-ISIS mission at large.”

He also criticised the fall of US military equipment into the hands of the Iran-backed Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi to be used against Kurds.

“Iran’s dangerous influence is far reaching, only emboldened with billions of dollars in sanctions relief after the catastrophic nuclear deal. The events of the past week in Kirkuk are yet another indication of their ambitious efforts to reshape and influence the Middle East.”

Endorsing the September independence referendum in Kurdistan, in which over 92% of people voted in favour of statehood, Senator Cruz said that the democratic international community should recognise the will of people of Kurdistan for self-determination.

“Should the Government of Iraq continue down this path and effectively act as a puppet of Iran, it would require a re-evaluation of U.S. support to the country,” he added.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/new ... tan/386752