Kurdish and Iraqi troops in Kirkuk standoff amid fears of new violence
Source:The Guardian Date:14Oct2017
This is the opening salvos of a new nightmare in Iraq which is certain to drag in Turkey. Kirkuk becomes the new battlefield between Kurds and Shia. PM Abadi does not wish to attack, but
Iraq’s Iran-backed militias propose entering Syria to back Assad
Source:The New Arab Date:04Jun2017
This is will hugely aggravate Turkey, as well as changing the dynamics of the Syrian War. Is a Shia Crescent in the making? How will Hashdi Shaabi and PYD-YPG get along?