Iraq
Peshmerga complete liberation of Mount Sinjar
Backed by US air-strikes, Peshmerga forces liberated the last remaninig Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar. But the Yazidis' home town of Sinjar remains occupied by ISIS.
Tag: Kurdistan
Greater Middle East
Toward Kurdish-Armenian reconciliation
The Kurdish mayor of the eastern Turkish city of Mardin, Ahmet Türk, apologized to Armenians, Assyrians and Yazidis for Kurdish collaboration in the genocide of 1915.
Greater Middle East
New Syrian rebel coalition: tilt to Turkey
Syrian rebels announced formation of a new Revolutionary Command Council at a meeting in Turkey—dominated by conservative Islamists but excluding Nusra Front and ISIS.
Iraq
Bedfellows get stranger in war on ISIS
Iran launched air-strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq, the Pentagon admitted. Meanwhile, it appears that NATO ally Turkey opened its territory to ISIS forces attacking Kobani.
Iraq
Yazidi woman speaks on ISIS genocide
Pari Ibrahim of the Free Yezidi Foundation spoke at New York's Institute for the Study of Human Rights on the ongoing genocide and sexual slavery of her people at the hands of ISIS.
Iraq
Observers: US-led Syria strikes kill over 900
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that US-led airstrikes in Syria have killed over 900—including 785 ISIS fighters, 72 Nusra Front militants and 52 civilians.
Greater Middle East
Amnesty: Syrian refugees face abuse in Turkey
Amnesty International accuses Turkey of firing on refugees at the Syrian border, and charges that the 1.6 million refugees within Turkey face destitution.
Iraq
Rojava revolution speaks in New York City
A forum at New York's City College featured a Skype link to Saleh Muslim, political leader of the Kurdish resistance at Kobani, and vividly described life in the besieged autonomous zone.
Iraq
US ground troops for Mosul assault?
Martin Dempsey, head of the US joint chiefs of staff, arrived in Baghdad, where he admitted that "we're certainly considering" sending US ground troops to assist in re-taking Mosul.
Iraq
Kurdish revolution: what odds for survival?
Will the anarchist-oriented Rojava Kurds ultimately be crushed in deference to Washington's NATO ally Turkey—or coopted into imperial clients? Is a third revolutionary option possible?
Greater Middle East
Kobani defenders claim advances against ISIS
A joint force of Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga and Free Syrian Army units launched a new offensive at Kobani, driving back ISIS west of the city.
Greater Middle East
Peshmerga come to aid of Kobani: strings attached?
Peshmerga fighters have joined the battle for Kobani, with Turkish acquiescence. But will Ankara and the West wrest a political price for this aid from Syria's Kurdish resistance?