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A weekly brief of events that occurred in the Kurdish regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
Iran
- In recent statistics from the Kurdistan Human Rights Association (KMMK), the death toll of the Kurdish border porters, known as Kolbars, has risen to 51, and another 78 were injured due to direct fire by Iranian border guards. The number of casualties increased last week when six more Kolbars were killed along the borders of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey in the respective Kurdish regions. Two Kolbars were killed in two different locations in the outskirts of Piranshahr by the Iranian border guards. On November 9, a Kolbar was shot and killed in an ambush near Sardasht. The following day another Kolbar lost his life near Marivan while carrying goods. In addition, two more Kolbars were shot to death near Uarmia and Salmas. The Iranian regime’s crackdown against the border porters has intensified at the beginning of 2018 as more Kurds have been working as Kolbars due to poor living condition and unemployment in the Kurdish region of Iran.
- On November 7, a high school in Nie village-Marrivan city protested the conditions of the schools. The students wrote slogans such as “we are cold” and “where are school supplies.” Since the start of the new school year, many of the students in the Kurdish region have suffered a shortage of school supplies and poor administration.
Iraq
- On November 12, the Iraqi Parliament held a session to discuss several issues including the Kurdistan region’s federal budget and the newly imposed custom checkpoints between Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region. The Kurdish lawmakers demanded an amendment on the current draft of the budget as it only gave the Kurdistan region a share of 12%, while the Kurdish lawmakers are asking for at least 14%. The Parliament also discussed the former Prime Minister Haider al Abadi’s imposed customs in Kirkuk. The Kurdish parties also called an amendment to the bill to recognize Halabja as a new province since it has been granted the status two years ago. The session has been postponed to November 20 amid an inability to reach final decisions.
- No progress has been made among the Kurdish parties to form the new cabinet for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The unofficial talks among the parties have not seen any progress. The Kurdistan parliament so far has had one session for parliamentary oaths. The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Ján Kubiš visited the Kurdistan region and held a meeting with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani to discuss the progress of the new Iraq government and the formation of the new KRG.
- In an airstrike by the U.S. led coalition, 14 ISIS terrorists were killed near Makhmour- Erbil. Most of the terror group activities in Kirkuk is due to the vacuum created after the Peshmerga forces were removed by the Iraqi government in the disputed territories on October 16, 2017. The ISIS terrorists have significantly increased their activities in recent months, especially in Mosul, Kirkuk, Selahaddin, and Diyala.
- On November 13, Turkish warplanes bombarded the Kurdistan region targeting Qandil mountains where the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are based. Last week Turkish artillery also hit a resort near Duhok city. After the U.S. bounty on the leaders of the PKK, a protest took place in Erbil against the U.S. decision.
Syria
- After temporarily suspending the fight against ISIS terrorists in the eastern Euphrates, the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) resumed their fight to liberate the last stronghold eastern Syria. “The General Command of SDF decided to resume their military operations against the IS organization and work to defeat it completely,” said a statement by the SDF. The SDF’s suspension of the fight came after Turkey launched attacks on the Kurdish areas which distracted the fight against ISIS. The SDF statement notes their talks with the U.S. led coalition about the Turkish attacks on Kobane. Resuming the fight was also confirmed by the U.S. envoy to counter ISIS Brett McGurk. The Kurds accused Turkey of helping ISIS by bombarding northern Syria while they are fighting the terror group in Deir Ez Zor.
- On November 12, unknown gunmen fired shots at a checkpoint of security forces in Manbij. The attack resulted in the death of four elements of the local public security of Manbij. ISIS terrorists have claimed the attacks on November 13. Also in Manbij, two civilians were injured when Turkish backed groups fired at a village north of the city. Manbij is controlled by the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Council.
- In Afrin, a group of Jihadis of the Turkish backed “Olive Branch Operation” raided a Kurdish home in Sherawa district and looted the house. During the raid, an 80 year old woman suffocated when the Jihadis placed plastic bags on the heads of the family. According to Kurdish media, Al Hamza groups conducted the operation. In the city of Afrin, more clashes took place among armed groups of “Olive Branch Operation.” Most of the infighting among the Jihadi groups is over the control of the region and taxation of the Kurdish farms.
Turkey
- The Turkish police conducted more raids in Izmir resulting in the arrest of nine Pro-Kurdish activists. The detainees were taken to the anti-terror department of İzmir. Most of the activists were charged with “Terrorist Propaganda” after posting political issues on social media. The Turkish authorities also arrested the head of the Central Executive Committee Member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Tuna Aydin. Meanwhile, a gunman attacked an office of the HDP in Bismil district-Diyarbakir. The attacks didn’t result in any casualties since it was after working hours the night of November 12.