Reuters: Iraq threatens to resume military operations against Kurds
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces threatened on Wednesday to resume operations to capture northern Kurdish-held territory after accusing authorities there of delaying handing over control of Iraq’s borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared a pause in an offensive that began on Oct. 16 to take over areas claimed both by his government and the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Abadi ordered economic and military retaliation against the KRG after Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in September in a referendum that Baghdad declared illegal.
He said the truce was meant to allow Iraqi troops to deploy without hindrance in the disputed areas and at the international borders.
Kurdish officials said on Tuesday they were willing to allow Iraqi “oversight” at the border but said the KRG had to remain in control of crossings into the Kurdish region.
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Update: Iraq says negotiations with Kurds have failed (Washington Post/AP)
WNU Editor: Baghdad has made many mistakes in the past few years .... but starting a civil war with the Kurds will be one of its worse.
