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Iran
- In a joint press conference, Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in Iraqi Kurdistan called on Iraqi parliamentarians to oppose a bill that calls for their expulsion from Iraq. The Pro-Iranian block in the Iraqi Parliament State of Law headed by former Prime Minister Noori Al Maliki proposed the bill.
- According to a report released by the Human Rights population of Kurdistan, several Kurdish people have been executed in the Iranian regime prisons in February and March of 2017.
Iraq
- The representatives of the Kurdish parties in Kirkuk held a joint press conference calling the Federal government in Baghdad to implement the agreement with Kirkuk’s administration in regards to oil exports and opening a refinery in the province. Prior to the press conference, the deputy governor Rakan Saed, Arab tribal leader Anwar Al-Asie, and several civil organizations released statements calling upon Baghdad to treat Kirkuk similar to other provinces and to fulfill their promise to Kirkuk. In the press conference the Kurdish parties also called Baghdad to “hold the provincial elections without preconditions” and “Kirkuk’s oil should benefit its people”.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi visited the Kurdistan region and held meetings with Massud Barzani the President of the region, then later traveled to Sulimanyah and held meetings with Patriot Union of Kurdistan (PUK) political bureau. According to Barzani’s chief of staff, Abadi discussed with the latter the military cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army in Mosul operation.
- Clashes broke out between Roj-Peshmerga who are backed by the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) and Protection Units of Shangal (YPS) backed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The clashes lasted two hours and casualties were reported before ceasing of fire on both sides. Tensions remain high as the Roj-Pesh and YPS forces remain stationed near Khanasor.
Syria
- After a week-long pause due to bad weather, the third phase of the Raqqa liberation campaign “Wrath of Euphrates” resumed toward the city. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by the U.S. led coalition liberated six more villages on the northeast side of the city. The six villages are along the way of 19km. The SDF also announced the graduation of 250 fighters from basic training to join the campaign of Raqqa.
- Manbij Military Council (MMC) part of the SDF released a statement denying reports on their agreement with Russia to withdraw from Manbij which was liberated from ISIS last year. The Statement said, “defense duty of Manbij and its surroundings is carried out by the Manbij Military Council and international coalition forces.” On March 6 the MCC said they repelled an attack by the Turkish “occupation army” on the Olashli village west of Manbij city. On Monday, thousands of displaced people arrived at Manbij fleeing from the ongoing battles in the west of Raqqa (Al Khafsah town) between the Syrian regime army and ISIS terrorists. Thousands of the fleeing families chose to arrive at Manbij which is controlled by the SDF rather than the Turkish controlled areas.
- In a fact-sheet announcement by the People’s Defense Units (YPG). In the fact-sheet, the YPG accused the Turkish army of 89 attacks on the Kurdish areas in the past 2 months in Syria. According to the YPG, the attacks resulted in the death of 4 fighters and 4 The YPG released the numbers of liberated villages and towns by their forces within a faction of the SDF in “Wrath of Euphrates.”
Turkey
- The Turkish military launched a campaign that includes a curfew in 18 Kurdish villages in Lice district of Diyarbakir (Amed) Province. Pro-Kurdish parties of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Free Women’s Movement (TJA), and the Democratic Regions’ Party (DBP) released a statement accusing the Turkish military of the demolition of houses and torturing civilians in the villages. The statement called upon the international organizations to intervene before “it is too late.” According to Pro-Kurdish media reports, eight thousand Turkish army soldiers are participating in the military campaign.
- HDP continues to campaign against the upcoming referendum to expand the President’s power on April 16, 2017. The opposition campaign has gained large support in the Kurdish areas. Meanwhile, the HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtash was denied visit from HDP deputies of Ankara MP Sirri Sureyya Onder and Istanbul MP Celal Dogan. Demirtash is serving five months in prison for “insulting the Republic of Turkey.” In Beytushebap district-Shirnak province the police detained its Co-mayor Nurettin Ataman.