This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/world/middleeast/iraq-islamic-state-kurdistan.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Thousands of Iraqis Flee ISIS to Kurdish Territory Amid Military Offensive | Thousands of Iraqis Flee ISIS to Kurdish Territory Amid Military Offensive |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KIRKUK, Iraq — Thousands of Iraqis have been fleeing Islamic State-controlled territory to the safety of Kurdish areas in northern Iraq, driven by a military offensive to retake the city of Hawija, the extremists’ last major urban stronghold in the country. | |
| The refugees’ reception in Kurdish-held areas was an indication that vital cooperation between Kurdish pesh merga fighters and the Iraqi military was continuing, at least on some level, despite the festering dispute between Iraq and the Kurds over the latter’s recent vote favoring independence. | The refugees’ reception in Kurdish-held areas was an indication that vital cooperation between Kurdish pesh merga fighters and the Iraqi military was continuing, at least on some level, despite the festering dispute between Iraq and the Kurds over the latter’s recent vote favoring independence. |
| According to Kemal Kirkuki, the commander of the pesh merga in the area west of Kirkuk, an estimated 3,500 Iraqi civilians had been allowed to cross Kurdish front lines from areas held by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in Hawija on Friday and Saturday. An additional 1,000 were expected on Sunday, pesh merga officials said. | According to Kemal Kirkuki, the commander of the pesh merga in the area west of Kirkuk, an estimated 3,500 Iraqi civilians had been allowed to cross Kurdish front lines from areas held by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in Hawija on Friday and Saturday. An additional 1,000 were expected on Sunday, pesh merga officials said. |
| Kurdish officials have provided camps in Kirkuk Province to take in the refugees after screening them to ferret out any Islamic State militants who may be among them. | Kurdish officials have provided camps in Kirkuk Province to take in the refugees after screening them to ferret out any Islamic State militants who may be among them. |
| The Iraqi Army and the police began an offensive on Sept. 21 to retake Hawija, which lies close to the Kurdish-held, oil-rich city of Kirkuk and has a largely Sunni Arab population — and where the Islamic State has found many supporters. While the Kurds did not actively participate in the offensive, they said they would maintain defensive lines and prevent Islamic State forces from escaping. | The Iraqi Army and the police began an offensive on Sept. 21 to retake Hawija, which lies close to the Kurdish-held, oil-rich city of Kirkuk and has a largely Sunni Arab population — and where the Islamic State has found many supporters. While the Kurds did not actively participate in the offensive, they said they would maintain defensive lines and prevent Islamic State forces from escaping. |
| By facilitating the flight of refugees from the area, the pesh merga has removed a potential humanitarian disaster from the battlefield. | By facilitating the flight of refugees from the area, the pesh merga has removed a potential humanitarian disaster from the battlefield. |
| “There has been no change in our support for the Iraqi Army; we are supporting them in everything from our side,” said Mr. Kirkuki, who said the Kurds had opened roads, shared GPS coordinates of ISIS positions and offered their hospitals for wounded Iraqi fighters. “If they need it,” he added, “they can have any help from our side.” | “There has been no change in our support for the Iraqi Army; we are supporting them in everything from our side,” said Mr. Kirkuki, who said the Kurds had opened roads, shared GPS coordinates of ISIS positions and offered their hospitals for wounded Iraqi fighters. “If they need it,” he added, “they can have any help from our side.” |
| Iraqi anger over the nonbinding independence vote last Monday, which Kurds supported by 93 percent, led to a declaration in the Iraqi Parliament that the military should retake Kirkuk from the Kurds. Such a move would make the Hawija operation impossible. | Iraqi anger over the nonbinding independence vote last Monday, which Kurds supported by 93 percent, led to a declaration in the Iraqi Parliament that the military should retake Kirkuk from the Kurds. Such a move would make the Hawija operation impossible. |
| Cooperation between Kurds in northern Iraq and the Iraqi military has been vital in the fight against the Islamic State, which has seen its territory in Iraq greatly diminished over the past year. American officials have expressed concern that the independence vote would have a negative effect on that cooperation and serve ISIS interests. | Cooperation between Kurds in northern Iraq and the Iraqi military has been vital in the fight against the Islamic State, which has seen its territory in Iraq greatly diminished over the past year. American officials have expressed concern that the independence vote would have a negative effect on that cooperation and serve ISIS interests. |