Iraq
Iraq: Kurdistan to vote on independence
Authorities in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region announced that a referendum on independence will be held in September—drawing immediate harsh criticism from Baghdad.
Tag: Turkey
Iran
Iran: Kurdish guerillas renew attacks
After Kurdish guerillas attacked an Iranian border patrol, Tehran blamed Turkey for failing to prevent "terrorist" infiltration—even as Turkey is building a security wall along the frontier.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: 200 on trial over coup attempt
Amid jeers and demands for the death penalty from government supporters, a trial opened for over 200 Turkish ex-officials accused in last year's attempted coup.
Southeast Asia
Trump-Duterte ‘bromance’ bodes ill for freedom
As Rodrigo Duterte openly defies rights groups and the UN in his murderous war on low-level drug dealers and users, Trump invites the Philippine strongman to the White House.
Greater Middle East
Abused women forcibly deported to Saudi Arabia
Two sisters abused by their family in Saudi Arabia were deported by Turkey—despite their asylum bid and fears they will be tortured or even executed by Saudi authorities.
Greater Middle East
Trump betrays Kurds in schmooze with Erdogan
In his White House meeting with Erdogan, Trump was sure to pledge support against the PKK "terrorists"—even as the US is backing PKK-aligned Kurds against ISIS in Syria.
Syria
Syria: Trump approves plan to arm Rojava Kurds
TheĀ Rojava Kurds, caught in a pincer between Turkey and ISIS, are being forced to accept superpower aidābut with costs for Syrian revolutionary unity against ISIS and Assad.
Iraq
Syria: a No-Fly Zone for Rojava?
Following Turkish air-strikes on their forces in northern Syria, Kurdish leaders in the region issued a call for a "no-fly zone"—heightening the contradictions for Washington.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: thousands more fall to post-coup purge
Turkish authorities purged a further 3,900 people from the civil service and military on suspicion of "terrorism" ties, pursuant to a sweeping new national security law.
Iraq
Iraq: Turkish air-strikes heighten contradictions
Turkish air-strikes on Kurdish militants both in Iraq and Syria place the US in an increasingly contradictory position—torn between its NATO ally and the most effective anti-ISIS forces.
Syria
Syria: Russia and Assad dropping Rojava Kurds?
Insistence on regional autonomy and a federal solution for Syria is straining the de facto alliance between the Rojava Kurds and Damascus, despite their mutual enmity for Turkey.
Syria
Hawks fear anarchist haven in Syria
The ultra-hawkish Henry Jackson Society warnsĀ that the US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria are allied with anarchists and elements of the Turkish and European armed left.