The Latest Breaking News from Kurdistan

Three Missiles Fall Near Oil Refinery in Iraq’s Erbil

Three missiles fell near an oil refinery in Iraq’s northern city of Erbil on Wednesday without causing any casualties or damage, Kurdistan anti-terrorism authorities said in a statement. Iraq’s state news agency cited the statement as saying “initial information show the missiles were launched from Nineveh” province in Iraq. Sources…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 7, 2022

Three missiles fall near refinery in Iraq's Erbil -Iraq state news agency citing Kurdistan authorities

Three missiles fell near an oil refinery in Iraq's Erbil on Wednesday without causing any damages or casualties, Kurdistan anti-terrorism authorities said in a statement.

Reuters · Apr 6, 2022

Iraqi Kurdish Businessman Says Not Involved in Gas Export Talks, Region’s Capacity Low

A Kurdish businessman whose home was hit by Iranian ballistic missiles this month has said he is not involved in and has no knowledge of plans to export natural gas from Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region to Europe. Baz Karim Barzanji, the CEO of a major domestic energy company called KAR…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 30, 2022

Man who grew up with war in Iraq now in Kyiv using his business to help

When Iraqi-born American entrepreneur Emad Ballack watched footage of war breaking out in Ukraine from his office in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, he decided he had to act.

Reuters · Mar 18, 2022

Israeli Media: 6 Drones Bombed UAV Base in Iran

Israeli media confirmed on Tuesday that Israeli drones destroyed a fleet of Iranian drones in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah in mid-February. The reports come three days after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched ten ballistic missiles at alleged Israeli sites in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 16, 2022

Qaani in Baghdad 2 Days after Iran's Strikes on Erbil

Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force Esmail Qaani arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday in an unannounced visit, two days after the Guards claimed responsibility for ballistic missile attacks against Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Iran said the barrage was retaliation for an Israeli strike in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 16, 2022

Kurdish Sisters Help Boost Iraq to Weightlifting Victory

In Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, sisters Ines, Israa and Oshin Muhsin have inherited a hefty mantle from their late father, using it to take their country to weightlifting glory. "We want to write the history of women's sports and preserve our father's" memory, Ines told AFP. At just 20, she…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 8, 2022

Heritage of Iraq’s Last Few Jews at Risk

In a busy district of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, there is little to distinguish the faded brick building, except for a Hebrew inscription above the entrance. Iraq's Jewish community was once one of the largest in the Middle East but its members have dwindled to a handful, outside of the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 3, 2022

Rare Persian leopard held in Kurdistan zoo faces uncertain future

Animal, which was caught in a trap and had leg amputated, cannot return to wild, but region lacks resources to rehabilitate it

The Guardian - UK · Feb 21, 2022

Kurdish transgender woman shot by brother had been hiding from family

Friends of Doski Azad said the 23-year-old makeup artist had received repeated death threats from male family members

The Guardian - UK · Feb 21, 2022