Kurdistan's Weekly Brief August 29, 2023

A weekly brief of events occurred in the Kurdistan regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Iran

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, announced that Iraq has agreed to the “disarming” of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region. Since the establishment of the current Iraqi government, which enjoys Iran’s support, Tehran and Baghdad have signed two agreements regarding “border security” and the removal of the Kurdish opposition groups that are based in Koya and Sulaymaniyah. Kanani issued a warning that the deadline for disarming the Kurdish opposition will not be extended, and he cautioned of “assuming responsibility”, which could entail resuming attacks. The Iraqi government, as reported by the Associated Press, has consented to relocating these groups within the Kurdistan Region. Officials from the main opposition groups, namely the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) and the Komala, have denied involvement in armed attacks on Iran, attributing any blame to the regime due to concerns about sparking renewed mass anti-government protests. These developments coincided with the regime’s continued crackdown on the Kurdish Region (Rojhelat), arresting dozens last week, ahead of the first anniversary of the mass anti-government protests.

In Kirkuk, the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al Haq militia staged a protest outside the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), expressing their opposition to the KDP’s planned return to Kirkuk. Since October 16, 2017, when the Iraqi government forcefully took control of Kirkuk, the KDP’s headquarters had been under the occupation of Iraqi security forces. The militants called upon the Iraqi Prime Minister to reverse Baghdad’s decision allowing the KDP’s return to Kirkuk. The protesters erected tents, leading to the closure of the main route to Erbil, resulting in significant traffic congestion. This escalation coincided with the KDP’s preparations for the upcoming provincial elections, the first of their kind in the province since 2005. The Al Haq militia, classified as a terrorist group, has been linked to multiple attacks targeting both the United States and the Kurdistan Region.

The three-day trip of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Iraq, which included the Kurdistan Region, has concluded. During his visit, he held meetings with key Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials. Fidan engaged with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, other high-ranking officials, and leaders of various political parties. The discussions centered around topics such as the resumption of oil flow between Kurdistan and Turkey, as well as broader trade and economic matters. Fidan indicated Turkey’s vested interest in promoting stability, security, and development in the Kurdistan Region, reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Erbil. Simultaneously, the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (‘APIKUR’) issued a statement estimating the combined losses for Iraq and Kurdistan at four billion dollars, underscoring the significance of restarting oil exports. The statement from APIKUR emphasized the availability of viable solutions to address the ongoing crisis and urged all parties to swiftly implement mutually beneficial commercial agreements that could attract international investment for the benefit of all Iraqis.

The Turkish military conducted airstrikes on several villages in the Duhok province. The Turkish defense ministry reported that the soldier had been fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device. While the bombardments did not result in any casualties, they instilled considerable fear among villagers who endured the airstrikes from midnight until 9 am.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have initiated a military operation named “Operation Security Reinforcement” in collaboration with international coalition forces. The objective of this operation is to quell the escalating terrorist activities of ISIS (Da’esh) in the Euphrates, particularly within the rural areas of Deir ez-Zor. This operation comes in response to reports of a Da’esh uprising to the south of Hasakah city, prompting a state of general alert, curfew, and heightened vigilance enforced by SDF personnel.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Rashid Abu Khawla, the leader of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, has been apprehended by the SDF amid escalating tensions between the military and the council in recent weeks. The SOHR reveals that Abu Khawla stands accused of independently recruiting over a thousand tribal fighters without the oversight of the SDF for his own personal military purposes. The swift and strong reactions from Abu Khawla’s allies and family have followed his arrest. The SDF is concerned that Abu Khawla’s actions could lead to negotiations with the Syrian regime and Turkey.

At least one journalist was killed by a Turkish drone near the village of Mazar Shaikh Jabr, on the Qamishli-Amuda road. The person killed is reported to be Najmaddin Faisal Haj Sinan, a journalist for the Jin TV Channel. At least one other person, a female journalist, was also injured in the drone attack. This attack follows a longstanding pattern of constant drone strikes by Turkey against Kurds in southern and western Kurdistan, in which civilians are often killed.

In response to the escalating inflationary pressures in Syria, with the Syrian pound losing more than 80% of its value in a mere three months, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has announced a substantial salary increase for its administrative personnel and employees. The minimum monthly salary for AANES staff has been raised to $75, while the maximum salary has been adjusted to approximately $590. This wage adjustment is aimed at addressing the deteriorating economic situation and rampant inflation. The dire economic conditions have triggered protests in southern Syria, which is governed by the Syrian regime, as the cost of essential goods has skyrocketed.

During the recent 4th Extraordinary Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), two new co-chairs were elected to lead the party. The newly appointed co-chairs, Sultan Özcan and Cahit Kırkazak, delivered speeches during the congress. In their addresses, they highlighted the HDP’s unwavering stand against the mounting pressure imposed by the Turkish government, which continually threatens the party with potential dissolution by the ruling Party of Justice and Development (AKP) regime. Both co-chairs emphasized the HDP’s commitment to persistently advocating for democracy, human rights, and peace, regardless of the challenges. This development follows the setback faced by the HDP’s electoral alliance, aligned with the Green Left Party (YSP), as it experienced a reduction in parliamentary seats during the 2023 election, while the AKP maintained its dominant position.