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Kurdish people

Iraqi army helicopter takes off at a base in Sinjar, Iraq, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. 

Iraq’s Yazidis stuck in ‘tug-of-war’ between regional armed groups

Violence

Recent fighting between the Iraqi army and a local militia in heavily populated civilian areas has led to the displacement of an estimated 10,000 people. 

YPJ_leadpic

These women are taking the fight against ISIS into their own hands

Conflict
Dutch journalist Fréderike Geerdink has been charged by Turkey with aiding a terrorist organization.

This Dutch journalist says she is doing her job. Turkey says she is helping terrorists

Global Politics
A fighter from the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, flashes a victory sign as he patrols the streets in the northern Syrian town of Kobane on January 28, 2015.

Antique weapons combined with high-tech airpower pushed ISIS out of Kobane

Conflict
A Kurdish boy with "Kobane" written on his forehead takes part in a celebration in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, after it was reported that Kurdish forces took control of the Syrian town of Kobani, January 27, 2015.

In the image war, ISIS takes a hit following Kobane setback

Culture
Dean Parker, a commercial housepainter and avid surfer from Florida, traveled to northern Iraq to fight with the Kurdish Peshmerga against ISIS.

Meet the surfing grandfather from Florida who helped the Kurds fight ISIS

Conflict

One day, Dean Parker was watching the news on TV. The next he was packing up body armor and preparing to fight with Kurdish forces against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria. Now he’s looking for a flight home — and knows he has some explaining to do to the FBI and Homeland Security.

Mohammed Jamil lived across the street from Iman Shawan, who left the Kurdish community to join ISIS.

Kurdish men are joining ISIS to kill their own people

Conflict

Hundreds of Kurds have crossed the front lines to join ISIS, essentially joining the fight against their own people. It’s shocking to many in the Kurdish semi-autonomous region of the Iraq, but government-paid preachers may have a hand in the phenomenon.

One of the first US volunteers with the YPG was Jordan Matson, from Racine, Wisc.

Anti-ISIS groups take in surfers and other Western volunteers

Conflict

There are now several dozen Westerners who have gone to Syria and volunteered for Kurdish militias fighting ISIS. And while many have military experience, some are simply outraged neophytes eager to help fight the jihadi group.

Kemal Kerkuki, commanding officer of Peshmerga forces outside of Kirkuk, speaks with his troops.

The Kurdish Peshmerga helping the US take back territory from ISIS may be kicking out Arabs

Global Politics

While many in Iraq’s north are happy that the Kurdish militias are taking territory back from ISIS, Iraq’s Arabs in the north are also afraid about what it will mean for them. Some Kurdish Peshmerga fighters these days are declaring an end to cooperation with Arabs.

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter holds up a piece of clothing worn by an ISIS fighter on December 18, 2014. Kurdish peshmerga fighters have fought their way to Iraq's Sinjar mountain and freed hundreds of people trapped there by ISIS.

Kurdish fighters finally end the months-long siege of Mount Sinjar

Conflict

Fighters from ISIS trapped thousands of people on the slopes of Mount Sinjar in August, and never left — until Friday. Kurdish forces say they have finally broken the siege with the help of Western airstrikes.