Us urges calm kirkuk crisis escalates

Here's a summary of the situation:

US Urges Calm as Kirkuk Crisis Escalates

The United States has called for calm as tensions escalate in Kirkuk, a disputed region in northern Iraq, following a series of violent incidents.

Background:

Kirkuk is a city in northern Iraq that has been a flashpoint for tensions between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The city has a mixed population of Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen, and has been a source of conflict between the two governments.

Recent Developments:

On October 15, 2017, the Iraqi government launched a military operation to retake Kirkuk from the KRG, which had been in control of the city since 2014. The operation was sparked by the KRG's independence referendum, which was held on September 25, 2017, and was opposed by the Iraqi government.

Violent Incidents:

Since the start of the operation, there have been reports of violent incidents in Kirkuk, including clashes between Iraqi government forces and KRG peshmerga fighters. On October 16, 2017, a suicide bombing in Kirkuk killed at least 10 people and wounded many more.

US Response:

The United States has urged calm and restraint in the region, calling on all parties to avoid violence and to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq. The US has also called on the KRG to respect the Iraqi government's authority and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

International Reaction:

The international community has also expressed concern over the situation in Kirkuk. The United Nations has called for an immediate end to the violence and for all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution. The European Union has also urged calm and restraint, and has called on all parties to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq.

Implications:

The crisis in Kirkuk has significant implications for the region. The conflict has the potential to destabilize the entire region, and could lead to further violence and instability. The crisis also has implications for the fight against ISIS, as the group has been able to take advantage of the chaos in the region to regroup and reorganize.

Conclusion:

The situation in Kirkuk is highly volatile and unpredictable, and it is difficult to predict how the crisis will unfold. However, it is clear that the United States and the international community are urging calm and restraint, and are calling on all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.