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Interior Ministry and Judiciary Emerge as Battlegrounds in KDP–PUK KRG Cabinet Negotiations

A month after the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—the two main victors in the October 20 parliamentary elections—announced a preliminary agreement on a joint…
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US Secretary of State Urges Resumption of KRG Oil Exports in Call with Masrour Barzani

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to press for the resumption of the KRG’s suspended oil exports. While Washington has…
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Spheres of Influence: Turkey, Israel, and the Future of Northeast Syria

During the Trump–Netanyahu press conference yesterday, President Trump made it clear he intends to accommodate Erdogan’s demands. He even claimed that Turkey had effectively “taken over Syria,” something he said…
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Turkish Actor, Seized Christian Land, and the KRG PM’s Real Estate Empire

Yesterday, amid extensive coverage by media outlets affiliated with KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani—such as Kurdistan24 TV and AVA Media—famous Turkish actor Burak Özçivit arrived in Erbil. His visit received…
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The KRG Oil Crisis: How Iraq’s 2023 Legal Victory Evolved into a Strategic Vulnerability

Our recent analysis on KRG oil exports has drawn notable attention—prompting a response from APIKUR, followed shortly by a statement from the Iraqi Oil Ministry addressing APIKUR’s remarks. Both responses…
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Why International Oil Companies Are in No Rush to Resume KRG Oil Exports

Despite the KRG agreeing to a $16-per-barrel production cost and increasing U.S. pressure for exports to resume, and despite repeated promises by Iraq’s oil minister that exports would restart “in…
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Turkmen Front Power Struggle Escalates as Erşat Salihi Defies Leadership by Embracing Expelled Kirkuk Deputy Governor

The internal divisions within the Iraqi Turkmen Front have erupted into the open, following Kirkuk Deputy Governor Yavuz Hamid’s public alignment with the faction led by Erşat Salihi. Hamid, previously…
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Who’s Who in Syria’s Fatwa Council — and Where They Stand on the SDF

While the HTS-led Syrian authorities recently announced the formation of a new government, an equally significant—if not more consequential—development is the establishment of the Syrian Supreme Fatwa Council. This religious…
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What Kurdish Flags Reveal About Newroz Celebrations in Syria

For the first time in decades, Kurds were permitted to celebrate Newroz publicly throughout much of Syria, including Damascus. While Newroz celebrations have been commonplace in areas controlled by the…
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Two Years After the Pipeline Shutdown: Where Do KRG’s Oil Exports Stand?

On the morning of March 25, 2023, Turkey halted oil exports from the Kurdistan Region to the Ceyhan port, following a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in Paris.…
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