Latest news with #KurdistanWorkers'Party
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish artillery causes large wildfire in Iraq's Duhok
Shafaq News/ A Turkish artillery strike on Friday ignited a large wildfire in Duhok province, northern Iraq. Local sources confirmed the destruction of hundreds of dunams in Duhok's Mount Gara, burning farmland and forested areas near suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) positions, while firefighting efforts were hampered by persistent security challenges. Turkish bombardment across the Metina (Matin) and Gara mountain ranges has continued for several days, sparking multiple fires and causing widespread agricultural damage. Thousands of dunams of cultivated land and orchards have reportedly been destroyed. Crops including grapes, walnuts, almonds, and sumac suffered extensive losses, dealing a serious economic blow to rural communities that rely on seasonal harvests for income. According to the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), Turkish military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan escalated sharply in May—rising 143% compared to April—despite the PKK's formal dissolution announcement.
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish shelling ignites farms in Duhok
Shafaq News/ On Monday, a large-scale fire broke out in northern Duhok province following Turkish artillery shelling targeting positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Eyewitnesses told Shafaq News that the fire swept through farmlands and forested areas in the Nahili region of Amedi district, north of the province, as a result of the shelling. They added that the flames are still burning and continue to spread toward new areas, while civil defense teams are struggling to contain the blaze due to ongoing security tensions and the difficulty of reaching the affected sites.
Shafaq News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Turkish delegation to visit Iraq soon with key issues on agenda
Shafaq News/ A high-level Turkish delegation is expected to visit Baghdad in the coming days, a source familiar with the matter told Shafaq News on Thursday. The delegation, headed by the President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education and including several ministers, will hold discussions on key issues, including the security situation in Syria and the presence of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) elements. The talks will also address economic matters, particularly mechanisms for resuming oil exports through the Ceyhan port, as well as the issue of financial penalties imposed on Turkiye. Additional commercial agreements and other files will also be on the agenda during meetings with the Iraqi government. Turkiye halted oil flows through the pipeline linking the Kurdistan Region to the Ceyhan port in March 2023 after a tribunal ordered Ankara to pay Iraq approximately $1.5 billion in compensation for unauthorized oil exports, refusing to pay the fine and asking Erbil to assume the liability. The shutdown halted around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil exports. A restart could partially ease the impact on oil markets, which have faced reduced shipments from Iraq, a key crude supplier. Iraq previously exported between 400,000 and 500,000 bpd from northern fields, including those in the Kurdistan Region, through the now-idle pipeline. Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited Turkiye on May 8, 2025, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations and concluded with the signing of 10 memorandums of understanding in areas including energy, trade, investment, and security. Meanwhile, trade between Iraq and Turkiye reached approximately $13 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow further in 2025.
Shafaq News
08-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's closet goes Turkish: A trade story
Shafaq News/ Turkish clothing maintains a commanding presence in Iraqi markets, fueled by strong consumer demand, geographic proximity, and growing confidence in product quality. This retail dominance mirrors a broader economic convergence, as Baghdad and Ankara aim to boost annual trade to $50 billion—a target shaped by both strategic priorities and market momentum. Threads of Diplomacy Turkish brands are deeply woven into malls and markets across Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, the Kurdistan Region, and the south. Their ubiquity signals more than popularity—it reflects increasing economic interdependence, particularly in textiles, where Turkiye has emerged as a leading supplier. This alignment is rooted in post-2003 trade growth, when Turkish exports to northern Iraq surged, laying the foundation for a durable commercial partnership. Momentum has since accelerated. Recent high-level visits by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Ankara and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad produced a series of agreements in infrastructure, energy, and trade. Among the most ambitious is the Development Road project, a $17 billion initiative linking Iraq's Grand Al-Faw Port to Turkiye via rail and highway corridors. Envisioned as a strategic transit route, the corridor is expected to diversify Iraq's economy and enhance regional connectivity. Security cooperation has also strengthened. Iraq's recent decision to classify the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a 'terrorist group' was welcomed by Ankara, marking closer coordination on regional threats. Turkish Textiles Take Over The apparel sector stands out as a pillar of Iraq-Turkiye commerce. In 2023, Iraq imported approximately $798 million in Turkish textiles, making Turkiye its second-largest supplier after China. Turkish garments now represent nearly 90% of clothing in Iraqi shopping centers, according to Nawaf Qilij, Head of the International Association of Industrialists and Businessmen in Turkiye. Imports rose sharply across several categories. Women's suits, jackets, and knitted wear posted increases of 10% to 40% between 2022 and 2023, while T-shirts and vests climbed by over 30%. 'This clothing has become part of Iraq's daily consumption,' observed Saadoun Abbas of the Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, pointing to a blend of high demand and trusted quality. Trader Yashar al-Bayati, who works in the New Baghdad Market, told Shafaq News that Iraqi customers now recognize Turkish fabrics for their superior cotton, intricate embroidery, and contemporary designs. 'Turkish winter wear, in particular, sells quickly because it lasts longer compared to Chinese or locally made products.' Despite strong imports, Iraq's textile exports to Turkiye remain limited—just $896,000 in 2023—highlighting a significant trade imbalance. Still, demand for Turkish goods continues, driven by price competitiveness. Consumer habits reinforce this pattern. Kirkuk-based civil servant Hanaa Jassim said she prefers Turkish brands for her children due to 'comfort, elegance, and longevity.' Even higher-end women's suits, some priced up to $200, remain in demand for their lasting quality. Bottlenecks and Barriers Structural challenges continue to limit the full potential of Iraq-Turkiye textile trade. The Khabur border crossing, currently the sole trade corridor, is overwhelmed by more than 2,000 trucks daily, creating a serious bottleneck. Industry voices have urged the opening of additional border points to alleviate congestion and streamline logistics. Complicating matters are visa restrictions that hinder Turkish businesspeople from accessing key Iraqi provinces, slowing distribution and limiting market penetration. Meanwhile, Iraq's domestic textile sector is struggling to stay afloat. Burdened by rising production costs, limited state support, and weak tariff protections, local manufacturers face mounting pressure from Turkish imports. Speaking to our agency, clothing trade expert Hussam Jamal cautioned that unchecked dependence on foreign apparel could further erode Iraq's production base. Yet, he recognized Turkiye's advantage, citing modern design and strong consumer demand as drivers of dominance. 'The apparel sector,' he concluded, 'remains one of the most dynamic areas of Iraqi-Turkish economic cooperation.'
Spectator
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
What being kidnapped taught me about the struggle for Kurdish independence
Twenty-one years ago, I was opportunistically kidnapped by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In light of the PKK declaring last month its intention to discontinue its armed struggle against Turkey, I've been reflecting back on my involuntary run-in with the struggle for Kurdish self-governance. As with my kidnapping, the Kurdish cause had always been riven by amateurism, not to mention the petty feuds of the rival Kurdish organisations in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Truces, mass casualty events, kidnappings, and negotiations followed each other haphazardly. The struggle was filled with freelancers, bandits, and entrepreneurs. It embodied contradictory approaches to Americans and Western power in the region. Steve had come to the Levant for a taste of the exotic. The year was 2004. We were both Fulbright Scholars. After a week in Syria, we were tired of ruins and banquets. We were headed to Beirut for the pleasures of real civilisation – the rooftop bar at the Virgin Mega Store, Haagen-Dazs, and the much-missed company of western women.
