A geo-cultural region in West Asia with a Kurdish-majority population
President Donald Trump has said he will "pretty soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory after defeating Iran, and has touted a US naval blockade. Iran has rejected the claim, saying the strait "will only be closed and opened under Iran's command" and has refused to resume talks while the waterway remains blocked. Mediators continue quiet contact.
A tanker explosion near a traffic police station in Sanandaj, Iran, is believed to be caused by a braking fault, injuring several and prompting hospital treatment. The incident echoes a deadly 2018 crash near the same city. Iran faces a high road-accident toll annually, while regional tensions with the US have escalated.
Drones launched from Iraqi soil have disrupted the East-West oil pipeline, triggering Iraqi authorities to close three border crossings and sack a Missan province commander. Baghdad is reviewing operations as it probes the incident, while Saudi Arabia suspends the pipeline route.
Iraq and Turkey have agreed to establish full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of outlawed armed elements. Turkish forces will hand over a Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Baghdad under an agreed mechanism, with a timetable not specified. The pact follows talks between Erdogan and al-Zaidi at the UN General Assembly, and aligns with earlier Kurdish armed groups’ disarmament efforts.
The US-led coalition has formally concluded its combat and operational presence in Iraq, winding down to an advisory role. Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga are expected to lead security efforts, with the government emphasising sovereignty while pro-Iran factions press for disarmament and continued influence.
The United States-led coalition has completed its orderly withdrawal from Erbil, handing security responsibilities to Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Iraq aims to preserve sovereignty amid Iran-aligned pressure and regional volatility. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is pushing to place weapons under state control while diversifying the economy to reduce external influence.
Ocalan has been relocated to a newly built section of his Imrali prison. Kurdish officials say the move accelerates the peace process, while Turkish authorities stress calling for a cautious approach amid ongoing talks. The development follows Kurdish demands for better conditions and a push to end decades of conflict.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has withdrawn from the Kurdish regional government, calling the KDP-led administration failed. The move follows a day of parliamentary session that elected a KDP ally as speaker. The rift reflects a long-standing KDP-PUK rivalry, raising questions about security coordination and governance in Iraqi Kurdistan.