Iraqi Kurdistan to Vote on Independence: Middle East Heads for Another Major War

The situation of the Kurds has received little attention in media. Meanwhile, the largest ethnic group without a homeland is on the verge of a new status to reshape the political map of the Middle East. Iraq’s Kurdish region plans to hold an independence referendum on Sept. 25 in three governorates that make up their autonomous region, and in disputed areas controlled by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad. A new non-Arab actor may soon appear on the Middle East volatile map. The process may not be limited to Iraq, but also include Syria, Turkey and Iran. Masrour Barzani, head of the Kurdish government's Security Council and son of President Barzani, said a year ago that Iraq should be divided into separate Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish entities to prevent further...

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