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A weekly brief of events and news occurred in the disputed territories.
Kirkuk
- On July 4th, an engineering team affiliated with the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Operations Command visited the Kurdish neighborhood of Shoraw in order to survey land for the construction of a military headquarters. Shoraw is a Kurdish neighborhood situated near the main Erbil road at the gate of Kirkuk. The residents of the neighborhood expressed their opposition to the PMU’s plans and voiced their concerns on social media. It is worth noting that in 2017, the Iraqi military had occupied the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the same area.
- Despite significant disagreements among the political parties representing different ethnic groups in Kirkuk, none of the factions have been able to form a unified list for the upcoming provincial elections scheduled for December 18. Currently, the Kurds in Kirkuk have registered three distinct lists, consisting of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and the New Generation Party. The Arab parties have formed three registered coalitions: the Arab Council, the Arab Assembly, and the Azem Coalition. Additionally, the Turkmen have divided into two entities, namely the Turkmen Front and the Turkmen Alliance. The Electoral Commission is accepting party registrations until the end of July. Notably, the provincial election in Kirkuk will be the first one held since 2005.
- As a result of the halt in Kurdistan’s oil exports, which has had an impact on Kirkuk, the province’s revenue for June amounted to only $17 million. According to the latest statistics from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), Kirkuk’s exports through the Cihan pipeline to Turkey remained at zero for the third consecutive month. The remaining revenue was generated from the export of 299,445 oil barrels to Jordan, averaging $58.70 per barrel and resulting in a total of $17,577,421.
- On June 6th, a clash occurred between several ISIS (Da’esh) terrorists and security forces near the Pirdê district, resulting in the death of five terrorists. Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service claimed that the terrorist group was ambushed during a planned raid that was initiated with the use of snipers. The Pirde district is located north of Kirkuk and has witnessed an increase in Da’esh activities due to the absence of Peshmerga forces since October 16, 2017, when Iranian-backed militias and the Iraqi army removed the Kurdish forces and took control of the region.
Shingal (Sinjar)
- The persistent lack of essential services and security in the Shingal district continues to drive the migration of Yazidis. According to the latest report, 250 Yazidis have left their region and embarked on risky journeys to Greece. The report also highlights a significant number of Yazidis residing in Turkey, patiently waiting for opportunities to cross into Europe. “We still don’t feel safe. The actions of the government and extremists have made us think twice. It is better to leave the country and preserve our dignity than losing it,” said an immigrant to Ezidi24 news.