Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga, or volunteer fighters, march during training session in Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)-controlled Arbil. AFP
Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga, or volunteer fighters, march during training session in Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)-controlled Arbil. AFP

1992 - Iraqi Kurds establish their own regional government

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Updated 19 April 2025
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1992 - Iraqi Kurds establish their own regional government

1992 - Iraqi Kurds establish their own regional government
  • They achieved autonomy after decades of struggle but the fight for true independence continues

DUBAI: Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War, the Kurdish people have aspired to self-rule. 

With more than 20 million Kurds living in parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkiye, Kurdish national movements began to form in the 1920s. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that the Kurds of Iraq made their first significant advance toward autonomy, taking advantage of the defeat of Iraqi forces in the Gulf War to elect their own Kurdistan Regional Government and National Assembly in Erbil. 

The struggle to establish a Kurdish state began in earnest in the 1960s, following the return to Iraq from exile in the Soviet Union of nationalist leader Mustafa Barzani. He had been invited to return by Abdul-Karim Qasim, an army officer who had overthrown the Iraqi monarchy and seized power. Qasim promised autonomy for the Kurds in return for Barzani’s support. 

When this autonomy failed to materialize, tensions between Barzani’s Kurdish Democratic Party and Baghdad escalated into armed conflict; the First Iraqi-Kurdish war lasted nine years, cost thousands of lives and ended in stalemate. 

By that time the Baath Party was in charge in Baghdad, and in 1970 President Ahmed Hassan Al‐Bakr reached an agreement with the KDP, promising the Kurds autonomy in the northern regions of Iraq.

However, the central government in Baghdad failed to take concrete steps to grant the Kurds any real power, and continued to exert control over the region’s military and administrative affairs. Repeated violations of the agreement led to a renewed conflict in the mid-1970s. 

How we wrote it




Arab News featured Iraqi Kurds flocking to the first free elections to vote for rivals Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani.

The 1980s marked another period of intense repression and violence against the Kurds, during the rule of Saddam Hussein. Following his invasion of Iran in 1980, he launched a series of brutal attacks against the Kurds. 

During the 1988 Anfal campaign, which was condemned by human rights groups and governments worldwide as genocidal, tens of thousands of Kurds were killed and their villages destroyed by Iraqi forces. 

Saddam justified his actions as a response to what he perceived as Kurdish disloyalty and collaboration with Iran during the war. 

When the Gulf War ended in 1991, Kurds in the north of the country and in Shiite communities in southern Iraq, encouraged by the defeat of Saddam by US-led coalition forces following his invasion of Kuwait, rose up against the government in Baghdad. 

Saddam’s response was particularly brutal, on a massive scale. In an effort to protect the Kurds, the US and its allies imposed a no-fly zone in northern Iraq. This, along with broader international support for Kurdish autonomy, eventually paved the way for a de facto autonomous Kurdish region in the north of the country. 

At the time, however, Kurdish political forces were divided between the KDP, the nationalist movement still led by the Barzani family, and the leftist Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by Jalal Talabani. 

The two political factions vied for power with the aim of asserting dominance over the Kurdish government. Their rivalry ignited a civil war that began in 1994 and continued for four years. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    Following the First Iraqi-Kurdish War, the Iraqi government recognizes the autonomy of the Kurdish people.

    Timeline Image March 11, 1970

  • 2

    Collapse of autonomy talks leads to year-long Second Iraqi-Kurdish War.

    Timeline Image 1974

  • 3

    Kurds rebel in wake of Saddam Hussein’s defeat during the Gulf War. After expected US support fails to materialize, the rebellion is brutally crushed.

    Timeline Image March 5, 1991

  • 4

    The Iraqi Kurdistan Front, an alliance of political parties, holds parliamentary and presidential elections and establishes the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a new autonomous Government of Kurdistan in Iraq.

  • 5

    4-year civil war breaks out between rival Kurdish factions.

    Timeline Image May 1, 1994

  • 6

    After the fall of Saddam, Kurds are given 5 of the 25 seats on the new Iraqi Governing Council, set up by the Coalition Provisional Authority.

    Timeline Image July 13, 2003

  • 7

    Kurds vote overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum but Kurdistan Regional Government backs down from their demand after Baghdad’s troops occupy Erbil.

After the repeated failure of peace negotiations, the US eventually intervened to broker the 1998 Washington Peace Agreement, which laid the groundwork for a more unified Kurdish leadership. It called for a ceasefire, the return of refugees, and a power-sharing arrangement between the KDP and the PUK, with key positions in the government divided between both parties. 

After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the toppling of Saddam’s regime, Kurds were included in the Iraqi Governing Council established by the Coalition Provisional Authority in July 2003. They were also granted significant political power in a new Iraqi Constitution, which recognized the Kurdish region as an autonomous federal region within Iraq. The Kurdistan Regional Government was officially formed. 

On Jan. 31, 2005, the Kurdistan National Assembly elected Masoud Barzani, Mustafa Barzani's son, as the first president of Kurdistan Region. He ruled over three, Kurdish-majority governorates: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Dohuk. 

The regional government was granted full control over its internal affairs. It established its own security forces, called the Peshmerga, and recognized Kurdish as the official language, alongside Arabic. 

Despite this degree of autonomy, tensions between Kurdish authorities and the central government in Baghdad continued to rise over issues such as control of oil resources, territorial disputes and political representation. As the regional government sought greater control over oil fields in the Kurdish region, often in defiance of Baghdad’s wishes, it led to disputes over revenue sharing. 




Iraqi Kurdish women Peshmerga snipers train at the general command base in Suleimaniya. Despite gender equality challenges, Kursdih women play an active role in the battle for democracy and Kurdish national liberation. AFP

When militant group Daesh swept across the north of the country in 2014 and the Iraqi army collapsed, Peshmerga forces took control of the multiethnic, oil-rich region of Kirkuk. 

In 2017, the regional government held a referendum in which a vast majority of voters in Kirkuk supported independence. However, the referendum was met with strong opposition from Baghdad and much of the international community, which feared it would distract from the war against Daesh. 

Haider Al-Abadi, Baghdad’s prime minister at the time, said he would not discuss the outcome of the referendum and instead would “impose Iraq’s rule in all districts of the region with the force of the constitution.” 

The Iraqi army swiftly occupied Kirkuk and, after a series of clashes with Peshmerga, the regional government backed down. On Oct. 24, 2017, it offered to “freeze the results of the referendum” and proposed an immediate ceasefire. 

“We are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces,” it said. 

“The confrontations between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces … have caused damage to both sides and could lead to continuous bloodshed, inflicting pain and social unrest among different components of Iraqi society.” 

Five days later, Barzani announced he would step down as president of Kurdistan Region. In November the regional government announced it would respect a ruling by Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court that no region or province is allowed to secede. 

The ruling, the regional government said, “must become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve all disputes.” 

For the Kurds, however, the very existence of the Kurdistan Regional Government still represents a major achievement in their pursuit of political autonomy and cultural recognition. 

  • Nadia Al Faour is a regional correspondent for Arab News.  She previously contributed to international publications such as The Guardian and USA Today. 


Saleh Al-Shehri returns for Al-Ittihad ahead of SPL trophy celebrations and King’s Cup final

Saleh Al-Shehri returns for Al-Ittihad ahead of SPL trophy celebrations and King’s Cup final
Updated 8 min 40 sec ago
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Saleh Al-Shehri returns for Al-Ittihad ahead of SPL trophy celebrations and King’s Cup final

Saleh Al-Shehri returns for Al-Ittihad ahead of SPL trophy celebrations and King’s Cup final
  • The Saudi international had been sidelined since April 17 with a hamstring injury

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad striker Saleh Al-Shehri has returned to full training ahead of the club’s Saudi Pro League title celebrations and their final league fixture against Damac on Monday.

The Saudi international had been sidelined since April 17 with a hamstring injury sustained during a match against Al-Fateh in round 28.

He missed five games during his recovery but trained with the squad on Saturday under the watchful eye of head coach Laurent Blanc.

His return comes as a timely boost for the Jeddah club, which will also welcome back several key players ahead of a crucial fortnight.

French striker Karim Benzema and Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar are both back from injury, while Brazilian enforcer Fabinho Tavares is available once again after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Al-Ittihad resumed training on Saturday following a short two-day break, with preparations now focused on Monday’s season finale and the King’s Cup final against Al-Qadsiah on May 30.

With the league title already secured, Blanc’s side will be hoping to finish their campaign on a high before lifting the Roshn League trophy in front of their home fans at the King Abdullah Sports City.


Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience
Updated 20 min 27 sec ago
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Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience
  • Deep-rooted cultural connection in the spotlight 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has used the stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka to tell a story of Saudi-Japanese relations which spans the oceans.

In a live performance titled “Tales of the Sea,” the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together the seafaring traditions of Saudi Arabia and Japan, spotlighting a deep-rooted cultural connection anchored in pearl diving, patience, and poetry.

Held at the Saudi Courtyard Theater, the show centered on the figure of the nahham, a traditional Gulf singer whose role was to inspire pearl divers with his voice during long months at sea.

Japan’s ama divers, skilled women known for their sea diving expertise, were also featured to showcase their abilities and the risks they took in search of sea treasures. 

The performance told the story of a Saudi diver on a six-month journey to find the largest pearl, combining performance with visual storytelling projected across five towering 13-meter walls.

Interactive exhibits showcasing traditional diving tools and cultural artifacts invited visitors to engage more deeply, sparking conversations about resilience, tradition, and the Kingdom and Japan’s shared maritime legacies.

The audience responded with enthusiasm, drawn by the show’s emotional depth and the unexpected parallels between the two cultures.

The show captured the maritime memories of both nations, which were enhanced by Gulf chants blended with traditional Japanese music to help create an experience that reflected the partnership.

The Kingdom’s pavilion — the second largest at the expo after Japan’s — will host more than 700 events during the six-month fair, including concerts, films, and storytelling performances.

“Tales of the Sea” stood out as a clear example of how cultural exchange can be both meaningful and memorable.


Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening.
Updated 32 min 2 sec ago
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Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening.
  • Court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Tuesday is the 29th of Dhul Qadah and if the crescent moon is sighted that day, the month of Dhul Hijjah, during which Hajj takes place, will start on Wednesday May 28. In this case, the first day of Eid Al-Adha will take place on Friday June 6.

If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday evening, Dhul Hijjah will start on Thursday and the first day of Eid will be on Saturday June 7.

The court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court.


Bangladesh court begins first trial of Hasina-era officials

Bangladesh court begins first trial of Hasina-era officials
Updated 25 May 2025
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Bangladesh court begins first trial of Hasina-era officials

Bangladesh court begins first trial of Hasina-era officials
  • Court in Dhaka accepted a formal charge against eight police officials in connection to the killing of six protesters on August 5 last year
  • It is the first formal charge in any case related to killings in last year’s student-led uprising that ended Hasina’s iron-fisted rule of 15 years

DHAKA: Bangladesh began the first trial on Sunday at a special court prosecuting former senior figures connected to the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina, the chief prosecutor said.

The court in the capital Dhaka accepted a formal charge against eight police officials in connection to the killing of six protesters on August 5 last year, the day Hasina fled the country as the protesters stormed her palace.

The eight men are charged with crimes against humanity. Four are in custody and four are being tried in absentia.

“The formal trial has begun,” Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told reporters.

“The prosecution believes that this prosecution will be able to prove the crimes done by the accused,” he said.

It is the first formal charge in any case related to the killings during last year’s student-led uprising, which ended Hasina’s iron-fisted rule of 15 years.

Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina’s government launched a brutal campaign to silence the protesters, according to the United Nations.

The list of those facing trial includes Dhaka’s former police commissioner, Habibur Rahman, who is among those being tried in absentia.

Hasina also fled by helicopter to India, her old ally.

She remains in self-imposed exile, defying Dhaka’s extradition request to face charges of crimes against humanity.

The launch of the trials of senior figures from Hasina’s government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power as the South Asian nation awaits elections that the interim government has vowed will take place before June 2026.

Islam said the eight men were accused of “different responsibilities,” including the most senior for “superior command responsibility, some for direct orders.. (and) some for participation.”

He said he was confident of a successful prosecution.

“We have submitted as much evidence as required to prove crimes against humanity, both at a national and an international standard,” he said.

Among that evidence, he said, was video footage of the violence, as well as voice recordings of Hasina in “conversations with different people where she ordered the killing of the protesters using force and lethal weapons.”

The ICT was set up by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladesh’s war for independence in 1971.

It sentenced numerous prominent political opponents to death over the following years and became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate rivals.


Kerala on alert as toxic cargo ship sinks in Arabian Sea

Kerala on alert as toxic cargo ship sinks in Arabian Sea
Updated 25 May 2025
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Kerala on alert as toxic cargo ship sinks in Arabian Sea

Kerala on alert as toxic cargo ship sinks in Arabian Sea
  • Vessel loaded with 84 metric tons of diesel and 367 metric tons of furnace oil
  • Strong water currents off Kerala complicate pollution response, expert says

NEW DELHI: India’s southern state of Kerala was on high alert Sunday after a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying hazardous cargo sank off its coast.

The Indian Ministry of Defense said the 184-meter MSC Elsa 3 container ship was en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam on Saturday when it issued a distress call.

All 24 members of the vessel’s crew — which included nationals of Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines — were rescued by the Coast Guard and the Navy.

“The vessel went down with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide,” the ministry said.

It did not specify what other hazardous substances were onboard, but calcium carbide becomes dangerous on contact with water, producing acetylene gas, which is flammable and explosive.

The vessel was also loaded with more than 84 metric tons of diesel and 367 metric tons of furnace oil.

Diesel and furnace oil are both classified as marine pollutants. They are toxic to marine life and can contaminate coastal ecosystems.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority issued a public warning on Saturday, when the ship started losing containers in the Arabian Sea. The authority’s secretary told reporters that “there is a chance the cargo, including containers and oil, will wash ashore.”

The Indian Coast Guard has deployed spill detection systems.

“ICG aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill mapping technology are conducting aerial assessment of the affected area,” it said. “As of now, no oil spill has been reported.”

What complicates pollution response is strong currents off the coast of Kerala, which, if leakage occurs, may move the spill toward the south, to Alleppey and Kollam districts, Prof. Biju Kumar, dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Kerala, told Arab News.

“These are the best fishing grounds, as far as Kerala is concerned. Any kind of oil spill will have consequences that will affect marine life. The major issue will be the fish fauna,” he said.

“The major threat is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are the most toxic component in any oil. They may be absorbed by plankton, which is a major food source for the commercially available fish … The PAH will remain in the water for a longer time. It essentially means that we need long-term monitoring if it happens.”