Kurdistan’s Barzani faces ouster. Iraqi army poised to seize KRG airfields
Iraq’s PM launches an operation to free Anbar from ISIS. DEBKAfile: It is Stage II of the Kurdish campaign for an Iran-backed Shiite takeover of another Sunni region.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi announced on Thursday, Oct. 26 that his army had embarked on a new operation to liberate the western Anbar province from the Islamic State. His troops were on their way to impose a siege on ISIS-held Al-Qaim on the Syrian border. ISIS also still holds Abu Kamal on the Syrian side of the Iraqi border. Abadi said the jihadis had just two options: to die or to surrender.
Sources in Baghdad report that the US Air Force has gone into action to soften resistance and speed the Iraqi army’s advance, although it is accompanied, as ever, by Shiite militias under direct Iranian command. Those militias, the PMU and Badr Brigade, are grouped together under the heading of Hasd al-Shaabi.
Therefore, the American Air Force is helping and supporting an Iranian-led militia, despite Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s assertion that “Shiite militias in Iraq must go home.” He spoke as recently as Oct. 21, after talks in Riyadh and Baghdad with Saudi King Salman and Prime Minister al-Abadi.
The scenario beginning to unfold in the Anbar campaign has features that suggest the set-up which led up to the operation against Kurdistan ten days ago. Then, too, Baghdad claimed its forces were massing for an attack on ISIS in Anbar. Instead, they suddenly turned around and landed a blow on the Sunni Kurds and Kirkuk. There are grounds to suspect that al-Abadi’s new anti-ISIS campaign in Anbar may be another masquerade to disguise an Iranian-backed Shiite offensive to seize control of Sunni Anbar.
The offensive against the Kurds is meanwhile escalating, with Iraqi airborne forces standing by to be flown in and dropped on the air fields of the two main Kurdish towns, Irbil and Suleimeniyeh. Iraqi troops and Shiite militiamen are also preparing to seize from the Kurdish Peshmerga Kurdistan’s external border crossings with Iran, Turkey and Syria.
Abadi opted for more military action against the KRG after rejecting its offer to freeze the results of its independence referendum, open dialogue and declare a ceasefire.
In irbil, US presidential envoy Brett McGurk tried to head off an Iraqi military invasion by persuading Barzani to accept its military presence – not as an act of war action, but as a consensual diplomatic step.
The US envoy’s task is complicated by the mess in the KRG capital, where the talk is of Barzani’s imminent departure as president, the price for the calamitous fall of Kirkuk. Opinions are divided on how and when: Some say he will announce his resignation to the KRG parliament when it goes into session on Thursday, Oct. 26; others that he will wait till Nov. 1, when his term of office anyway comes to a close.
Middle East sources confirm that Kurdistan’s governing administration is falling apart because it was run largely by the Barzani clan. The chaos reigning in Irbil makes it ripe for the Baghdad government and the pro-Iranian Shiite militias to move in and take over. The KRG’s semiautonomous status would then be reduced to a dead letter.
Iran is a nation of terrorists and Camel prick suckers. Their Ayatollah always gets the biggest pricks for his greedy self
sounds more like hilary clinton that you describe.
nicely triggered… LOL
Ignorant
Go fuck your mum
There are more terrorists and camels in Israel than Iran so there more camel and Carrot sukers like you. Israel terrorist state is terrorising Palestinian people daily in occupied lands and supporting Al-Qaeda and IS terrorists in Syria. Netanyahu is no different to Ayatollahs who are corrupt and are only after filling up their pockets.
Israel by interfering in Kurdistan and encouraging Barazani to go for independence is responsible for the situation in Kurdistan. The Kurd would have been better off trying to come to some sort of agreement with the Iraqi government rather than following Netanyahu and Israel!
“There are more terrorists and camels in Israel than Iran……”Blah Blah Blah. Evidence? Where do you get your “enlgihtened” info – the Jihad Gazette, Marvel Comics or Mad Magazine? Liberated lands are not “occupied” lands. War has consequences, dummy – one of them is that losers LOSE BIG! That’s what you and you clown friends are – as we say in Texas, “Big Hat, No Catlle”. You’ve got nothing to show for 50 years of whining, every Mid-East capital city except Jerusalem looks like a shit-hole, and compared to the Israelis, the only things Arabs have contributed to civilization since 1967 are airline hijackings, increased security procedures in airports, mass terrorism against civilian populations and making Mohammed the most popular name for a new-born baby in Europe (good luck with that, Europe – talk about “go F**K yourself!). A truly proud record, and every shahid’s mama can talk to her neighbor with pride about her child and “how quickly they blow up”.
Go back to sleep you camel sucker or shall I say cattle sucker. I bet they are more intelligent than you. You talk about Arab terrorist , who supported Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, who is supporting Al-Nusra in Syria. It is US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other US allies. You do not know anything about politics and geography. Everybody in the world and UN knows Israel is occupying Palestinian and Arab land and stupid you calling it liberated more like stolen by the Jews. Hitler liberated lands in Europe according to you but he got what he deserved. You talk about civilisation and I guess US and Israel are the bastion of civilisation. The US history is packed with injustice from slavery, interference in Latin America, Vietnam war and dropping nuclear bombs in Japan …………… and Israel terrorising Palestinian and stealing their land. You side with those who support terrorists like Saudi Arabia, Qatar , ….15 out of 19 terrorist were from Saudi Arabia, 2 from Egypt, …They are are Close allies of US. I don’t think you have ever got out of your hole because you do not even know Israel capital is Tel -Aviv and Jerusalem is not the best city in the Middle East. Go and educate yourself instead of blabbing on about thing you do not know dummy. I bet you are one of those crazy Christian Evangelist who talk from your arse most of time .
The problem is that the allies of the Kurds are doing nothing to help them. If Kurdistan falls then Iran has managed to take over Iraq, Syria and Lebanon from Persian Gulf to Mediterranean Sea. This U.S. obsession against ISIS who has killed less Americans than Hezbollah is resulting in the strengthening of Iran and its allied Shiite militias. Iran in the long term is more dangerous than ISIS because it is moving into territory that ISIS held.
I guess john mccain shouldn’t have helped create isis, another cia blunder, has zibnew brezinski written all over it.
You have syphilis of the brain. Too much Camel prick juice down your throat.
And what Is wrong with that?
Ooooppps I forgot that is sucks for United State of America Iran become a regional power isnt that right
Sucks? Like what khameini does for his favorite Camel?
You chaps are sport. Next you’ll be trying to say that you are the real. Aristocrats. Lol, triggered.
The problem is that the Kurds practiced war profiteering trying to enlarge their territories in Iraq. They then synced up with the Syrian Kurds trying to further enlarge territories and create an independent country.
The first moved pissed of the rest of Iraq, the second move pissed of not only the rest of Syria but Turkey as well. Russians await to see how they can make use of it while the US is annoyed as it leaves them in a position where they have to choose between Turkey and the Kurds. And Iran is loving riding the wave.
No one said anything until ISIS was being nulified, now that it is, paybak hurts…
Arming the Kurds was an unfortunate but major US mistake. An example of short-sighted tactical save-the-day moves killing long term strategic interests & stability…
As akurd I been disappointed by the us policy us should never let the Kurds alone we don’t have weapons to defend our self we are facing heavy us tanks and Iranian Melissa and Iraq shiaa
Our houses burend down thosends of Kurds flee Kirkuk and us watching with no help I am crying while I am writing this
Thanks to Israel for there support
Thanks to Russia
Thanks to any one who supported us
Gd bless you, don’t give up, never. In Gd we trust. The Shah is Iran, Iran is the Shah. He will give you your country if you can unite.
Your have fallen because you relied on Israel and US instead of trying to come to some sort of agreement with Iraqi government. The same fate await YPG, once they carrys out US task, they will be left on their own When UN tried to condemn Halabje chemical attacks on Kurd by Saddam, US tried to blame it on Iran and then vetoed it so remember they are not your friend but just want to use you. Iranian have more in common with Kurd than anybody else culturally and as a people but not with Ayatollah.
I think you are underestimating Kurdish power. All Iraqi hard attacks were fiercely met by Peshmerge forces and Iraqi hasdi sabi and central forces lost many tanks and personnel in the last week. The Kurdish forces suffered a psychological setback due to Talabani clan betrayal. But at the end things soon will get better. The real problem is not Iraqi army; if you win against Iraqi army, then you come across with Persian army, then turkish army! We Kurds have problems of the hell!
Kurd are very tribal, there are two faction,KDP which has grasped the power with Barazani at its helm like a permanent president and PUK . They have been at odd with each others and on occasion fought against each other. In 1996 KDP supported by Saddam attacked PUK and managed to grab their solemanieh and they were pushed back later on with Iran’s help. The peshmerge who were supposed to protect Kirkuk were mostly PUK member and Barazani probably wanted to sacrifice them instead of sending his own peshmerge. They Puk came to some sort of agreement and withdraw despite some fighting. I blame Barazani for calling for independence vote supported by Israel instead of coming to some sort of agreement with Iraqi government trying to sort out the issue of Kirkuk and otherissues. Those who were supposed to be friends of Kurd like US and Israel did not do anything for them. YPG better watch out. Foreign players from far away will leave !
How could it be “Stage II of the Kurdish campaign for an Iran-backed Shiite takeover of another Sunni region” when the entire action seems directed against the Kurds? I guess it is a mistake, and should be “Iranian campaign” instead.
IDF should send their men to fight alongside the kurds. The IRGC could be officially invited by Baghdad to drain the swamp. Whatever’s left will be clean water. IDF vs IRGC in neutral field. Place your bets!
Kind of a one trick pony, don’t you think?
Shouldn’t you be off somewhere stealing land because of an invisible sky goblin?
The walls are closing in…
Methinks you love Camel Pricks too much
You are an idiot because there are not many camels in Iran. The only camel sucker is you and your friend Israeli. You are talking out of your arse most of time!
Not many people know that Khameini is the guy’s middle name. I’m not making this up. His last name is Assahollah. Now you know why he is referred to in the press as the Ayatollah Khameini.
You have a problem with camel, have they done something to you. IOF can fight Hezbollah next door, at least their body could be returned to their families but Kurdistan is too far. They have never fought in a real one, the only one was in 2006 and they lost many people and the other side lost many civilians. The other war they were involved was a one side criminal action in Gaza which they bombed Palestinian civilians in a crowed strip and they did not achieve anything.
Well said and with razamataz, Taz. Keep it up. With that enlightened understanding of what happened, your history is certain to repeat itself. Maybe next time Gaza will be turned into the world’s largest cucumber field.
Anything is possible the Israeli have learned from their master Hitler who tried to do the same with Russia and did not succeed. I guess you do not remember now moving from Russia to occupied land but you are 100% right the Israeli are nasty and could kill everyone in Gaza and turn it into Cucumber Kibbutz if the world opinion allow them. They established Israel by uprooting Palestinian from their lands and replacing them with Jews from Eastern Europe and recently from Russia.
Destroy islam burry the hatred free the world of terror…
Iranians are waiting for US army eigerly face to face
They will scatter like dried up Camel shit when they face the Great American military
Just like in Vietnam! By the way what have camels done to you, Being in Texas I thought I was expecting cattle!
The trillions of dollars wasted on Iraq could have been better spent destroying the Iranian regime. Once again America and the world are deceived by Arabs and Islamists. We prop them up in Gaza, the West Bank, Iraq, Saudi, Iran, Qatar, Libya, Lebanon, etc., and then they turn the weapons we supply them with on us and our allies like Israel and the Kurds. When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn? Then the Russians come in and grab the oil and resources!!
This is confusing and it needs map references. The Kurds are fighting where? But Iranian militias and the Iraqi Army are liberating the area known as Kurdistan?
Isn’t that a problem in itself?
Isn’t using the name Kurdistan a problem since it includes for Islamic nations? Turkish being the largest part, Syria the smallest and Iraq and Iran.
It has been 9 months since Obama left office, now we are on Stage two and US media was brimming over with reports the Islamic State is defeated (That is the sort of reporting we came to expect with the Obama friendly press.).
This has been the worse covered and most convoluted regional war in my memory and the media seems incapable of reporting all the facts.
PS by media I am not including DEBKA.
As of today we see weak support from the Israel for Kurdistan, and it is definitely a set back not only for Kurds but also for Israel against Iran-Hizbollah-Arab Iraq and Hasdi Sabi. I think Israel should go deeper into the Kurdistan region to unite Kurds (Regional parties and also PKK) in order to confront with common enemies Arabs-Turks-Iran. In europe there is 2 million Kurds and Mossad can bring them together, centrilize them under a Kurdish Nation. Israel has ability to do more than what they are doing today otherwise Kurds will have to side with regional governments to live.
Nation building a bad idea. Should have kept Saddam. Geo political interests are far more important than oil. Iraq should never have been forced to give up Kuwait and it’s access to sea ports. This mess was caused by WWI,WWII,PATRIOTIC WAR decisions. Countries with people and Countries with oil. No countries with oil and people. Divide and conquest. This is the legacy of Rome. I believe impirialism is the correct word. Besides, you guys have a good time kicking butt and chasing the women. What else is there to do?
By the way, Israel is a 19th century British idea. Germans missed huge opportunity in the 1930s when they decided to Not arm Zionist elements and hit the Palestinians. Imagine formations of trained Zionst radicals storming ashore backed up by comepetent German air support out of Greece and Cypress. Nazi racism blinded them to the real opportunity to destroy the British empire. We Americans though saw the advantages to this idea. This is how the Spanish overran the new world. Now here we are in a world of robots and exploding Islamic women. What to do?…..
Russian’s are moving to fill the void. If you thought Americans are ass wipes just wait and see if Trump backs out and allows Putin to get control. Russians are not so nice to their occupied territories. The two of these guys might be cutting deals in secret. Stay tuned.
Tazi is a Nazi has no intelligence accept for Jew hatred. Israel is smaller than New York and mainly comprises Holocaust survivors and other survivors of the pogroms of Europe and Russia. Yes we are occupiers of our own land just as you are an occupier of the bathroom when you use it shithead. Just remember that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse us will be blessed. May the Nazi and Jew hating people of Iran be cursed and the good people of Iran I hope they destroy the evil people of their country. Before these evil shahs and rouhani nazis Israel and Iran had good relations
May G-d bless Israel and May these righteous Kurdish people overcome these Iranian and Turkish Nazis that want to deny them their independence from this shia axis of evil nazi jew hating garbage of a people. If you want G-d to spare you accept the noahide laws and bless the jewish people. IF NOT you will join Hitler may his name be erased in being erased from this world. There is no mercy for cruel and evil people.
Correction those who curse us will be cursed. Sorry but that is the truth.