ISIS has been almost defeated. Now a new war is coming to Iraq, one between Kurds and Iraqis. As per AFP both sides have been massively mobilized. While Iraqi forces are moving in to take over the city of Kirkuk, Kurds intend to defend it.
#BREAKING Kurds deploy thousands of fighters around disputed oil city Kirkuk for fear of an attack by Iraqi govt troops and militia
— AFP news agency (@AFP) October 13, 2017
#BREAKING Iraq army launches operation to retake Kirkuk province – general says
— AFP news agency (@AFP) October 13, 2017
The war is coming to oil rich city and its sufferings are not going to end anytime soon. Kirkuk has been in hands of Kurds since 11 Jul 2014, when forces loyal to Baghdad fled the city after fall of nearby Tikrit. The city oil fields produce almost a million barrels of oil per day – almost half of what entire Iraq does. Invariably the control of the field is of utmost importance to both Iraq and the Kurds.
But more than any nation state that may eventually come to rule these ancient lands, just who cares for the suffering of people. We may have been mistaken to believe that the worst is now over for Iraq or for that matter the entire region.
If Kurds are to declare hostilities towards Iraq, the Kurdistan aspirations will also be flared drawing in both Iran and Turkey to conflict. Even the Syrian Army may move in to the Kurdish controlled territories as the Kurd Administration fights multi-front war.
Irrespective chances of a free Kurdistan remain bleak, but the demand may renew the pain and anguish of the war-torn region all over again
