Kurdish Policy Analysis

Kurdistan tried to stay neutral. Now it’s under missile attack ERBIL, Kurdistan Region, March 24  — Six Iranian ballistic missile strike on a Peshmerga base in Erbil province killed six fighters and wounded 30 others early Tuesday, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga Ministry, marking a dangerous escalation after days of drone and missile attacks. In an official statement , the ministry said the casualties resulted from “Iranian ballistic missiles” striking its Area Command One headquarters in the Soran administration of Erbil province. Six Kurdistan  Regional Government  Peshmerga  were killed early on Tuesday when missiles targeted their base. The missiles were likely fired by Iran or Iranian proxies in Iraq. Iran has a network of  Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.  These groups nominally come under government control as paramilitaries of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). They are also called Hashd al-Sha’abi. Iran and its  proxies ...

       Three scenarios that could reshape the Middle East and global economy overnight March 22, 2026 — By Pshtiwan Faraj   The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is entering what analysts describe as its most dangerous phase yet, with both sides escalating threats against energy infrastructure, shipping routes and regional targets — raising the prospect that the conflict could end abruptly, but not cleanly. The conflict , now in its fourth week, has already killed more than 2,000 people and disrupted global oil flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s crude supply. A War Reaching Its Breaking Point U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply would result in the destruction of Iranian energy infrastructure. Iran has responded with its own escalation, threatening to fully close the waterway and...

 Is the Kurdistan Region Becoming the Next Strategic Hub of the Middle East?      The Middle East is undergoing one of the most significant geopolitical transformations since the early 2000s. Wars, shifting alliances, economic pressures, and changing global energy dynamics are reshaping the region’s political landscape. In this evolving environment, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq faces both unprecedented challenges and historic opportunities. 1. Kurdistan as a Strategic Geopolitical Actor Located between major regional powers — Iran , Turkey , Syria , and the rest of Iraq — the Kurdistan Region occupies one of the most sensitive geopolitical crossroads in the Middle East. In the coming decade, the region could evolve from a semi-autonomous territory into a crucial diplomatic bridge between competing powers. Its relative stability compared to surrounding areas gives it an advantage as a hub for diplomacy, trade, and international engagement. Cities like Erbil an...

  Italy is pulling its troops out of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan region, which has become a flashpoint of the war in the Middle East. Italy has been gradually withdrawing its forces from Erbil’s Camp Singara since the start of the war, according to an Italian official. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously said Italy has no intention of joining the war. Of the over 300 troops stationed there before the war, around 100 returned to Italy and around 70 are in Jordan, the official said. There are still around 140 Italian troops in Erbil. Pulling out the remaining Italian troops became more urgent after a drone strike hit Camp Singara in the early hours of Thursday. None of the troops were injured in that attack. Italy has also withdrawn smaller military units from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, the official said.