The Latest Breaking News from Iraqi Kurdistan

An assassination, a feud and the fight for power in Iraq's Kurdistan

The marriage of convenience between Iraqi Kurdistan's political dynasties is on the rocks.

Reuters · Dec 5, 2022

Erbil Demands Acquiring Air Defense System to Deter Attacks

Masoud Haider, an advisor to Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq, has called on the international community to supply Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad with an air defense system. Haider made his demand in wake of Iran bombing Kurdish areas in Iraq in recent days. “Missile and…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Nov 22, 2022

Iraq Condemns Iranian, Turkish Attacks on Kurdistan Region

Iraq on Monday condemned Iranian and Turkish attacks on its northern Kurdistan region, the state news agency INA reported, citing a foreign ministry statement. "The repeated attacks carried out by Iranian and Turkish forces with missiles and drones on the Kurdistan region are a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the statement…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Nov 21, 2022

Iraq Reveals Presence of Five Turkish Military Bases on its Soil

Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army Abdel Emir Yarallah on Saturday exposed the extent of Turkey's military presence in Iraq, revealing that it is operating five bases in the country. Speaking at a special parliamentary session in wake of last week's Turkish strike on the northern Dohuk province, in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jul 26, 2022

Iraqi Kurd Farmers Battle Drought as Lake Dukan Retreats

Farmers in Iraqi Kurdistan seeking to irrigate crops face seeing their economic lifeline slip away as the waters of Lake Dukan recede and dams upstream in Iran stem the flow. Bapir Kalkani, who is also a trade unionist, farms near the picturesque lake but has seen marked changes over the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jul 26, 2022

Schlumberger Says It Will Not Apply for Iraqi Kurdistan Oil, Gas Tenders

US energy company Schlumberger has said it will not apply without Baghdad's consent for any tenders in the oil and gas sector of Iraq's Kurdistan region, according to a letter sent to the Iraqi oil minister and seen by Reuters. Schlumberger said it would comply with a February ruling by…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 27, 2022

Four Killed in Turkish Drone Strike against PKK Members in Iraq

A Turkish drone strike on Friday killed four Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants and injured one in Iraq's northern province of Sulaimaniya, Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said. The five people were driving their vehicle in the town of Kalar at around 6 a.m.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 17, 2022

Armed Drone Attack Wounds Three in Iraqi Kurdistan

Three people were wounded Wednesday evening after an armed drone struck a road in the suburbs of Iraqi Kurdistan's Erbil, security services said. "Several vehicles were damaged" in the attack, the Kurdistan Autonomous Counter-Terrorism Agency said in a statement, which took place on the road that connects Erbil to Pirmam…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 9, 2022

'I escaped Saddam Hussein's regime as a child - now I want to be Miss England'

Roza Kurdo and her mum scaped savage mass killings in Iraqi Kurdistan and sought a better life in Britain. She is now 25 and is hoping to be crowned Miss England 2022

Daily Mirror · May 14, 2022

Iraqi Kurdistan Has Energy Capacity to Help Europe, Says Iraqi Kurdish PM

The Kurdish region of northern Iraq has the capacity to make up for at least some of the energy shortfall in Europe, Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Monday. Barzani told an industry conference in Dubai that Kurdistan would soon become an important source of energy. "I am confident…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 28, 2022