The Islamic State was finally brought down to its knees. However, this status quo didn’t last for long. Its defeat in Syria and Iraq has only laid the foundation for new battles. These further conflicts have the potential to show a more dangerous side than its predecessors. As of recently, the northern Iraq witnessed the rise of a new combat where two U.S. allies are trying to reshape the future of the nation.
President Trump Refused to Endorse the Comprehensive Plan of Action
On the other side of the battlefield is the militia that benefits Iranian support. This conflict was sparked only days after President Trump announced plans to drop the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This is an agreement with Iranian leaders. The Asian sovereign state has to give up any pursuits of nuclear weapon appropriations. In exchange, European and American leaders will lift their sanctions aimed at Iran.
However, President Trump has doubts regarding Iran keeping its part of the bargain. Therefore, his refusal to back up the nuclear deal raised disagreement with world leaders. Angela Merkel, Theresa May, and Emmanuel Macron perceive the Iran deal as a deal that acts to the interest of international security.
The new battles are located in the city of Kirkuk. This region has been under Kurdish control since 2014. However, on Monday Iraqi forces initiated a move to reclaim their territory. They managed to capture an oil field, a military point, and other major facilities.
Iraqi Forces’ Victory in Kirkuk Can Act as Pretext for New Battles
However, the recent victory won’t seal total success. This event only underlines that the end of war hasn’t resolved the conflicts that had started it in the first place. Therefore, while the Iraqi militia were replacing the Kurdish flag with their own in Kirkuk, repressed sentiments came back to surface.
The Monday victory can be only a prelude to new battles. On top of that, this event contradicts something that the U.S. Defense Department claimed a few months ago. The collaboration between the Kurdish Regional Government and the Iraqi government was supposed to be “unprecedented.”
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