Iraqi Kurdistan – the beginning of a new crisis in the Middle East?

Abstract:

Against the backdrop of the ongoing dismantling of Islamic State (IS) and the preparations for the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan scheduled for 25 September, Iraq as a whole is facing a new conflict which is likely to result in a thorough revision of the present balance of power in this part of the Middle East. A serious risk has emerged that the conflict may rapidly escalate, and its consequences may be more serious for the Middle East and Europe than the fight against Islamic State.

ESO: Background information: Regional implications of Iraqi Kurdistan's quest for independence (European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016) http://www.europeansources.info/record/regional-implications-of-iraqi-kurdistans-quest-for-independence/

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