Barzani: US knew Iraqi forces planned Kirkuk takeover

Masoud Barzani, the ex-president of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, has said that a major Iraqi operation last month to take over Kirkuk and other Kurdish-held areas took place with the full knowledge of the US and the UK.

Irak: Barzani, fondateur de l'autonomie du Kurdistan contraint au départ

Le père de l'autonomie du Kurdistan irakien, Massoud Barzani, a annoncé dimanche quitter la présidence de cette région après son pari raté d'obtenir l'indépendance qui a conduit à la perte de presque tous les territoires que les Kurdes disputent à Bagdad.

Top US Diplomat Demands "Delay" of Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum

The US secretary of state called on the leader of Iraq’s semi-autonomous region Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, to delay a controversial referendum on independence from the mainland slated for next month.

Iraqi Kurdish leader says no turning back on independence bid

Iraq's Kurdish leader said on Thursday that there was no turning back on a bid to achieve an independent Kurdish state, but he would pursue it through dialogue with Baghdad and regional powers to avoid conflict.

Kurdish leader meets EU envoy to Iraq in Erbil

Masoud Barzani, president of northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, met Tuesday with EU Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Simonnet in the city of Erbil.

Preparations completed to retake Mosul: Massoud Barzani

Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) president Massoud Barzani said Saturday that preparations are complete for retaking Mosul from the terrorist organization Daesh.

KRG leader Barzani: Peshmerga forces will not enter Mosul

The Kurdistan Region President stated on Sunday that Peshmerga forces will participate in the Mosul liberation operation but will not enter the city.

Iraq’s Barzani calls for referendum on regional autonomy

Massoud Barzani, president of northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, renewed calls on Wednesday for a referendum on the region’s independence from the central government in Baghdad.

Turkey tries to deepen ties with Iraqi Kurds

The visit of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani to Turkey is seen as a move to bolster bilateral ties amid a feud between Ankara and Baghdad over recent deployment of Turkish troops near Mosul province.

KRG leader Barzani arrives in Turkey, visits MİT headquarters

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani visited Turkey this week to hold talks with Turkish officials amid tensions between Turkey and Iraq over the deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdistan Leadership Says PKK Should Leave

Kurdish fighters of the PKK should move out of Iraqi Kurdistan to prevent Turkish air strikes against them from causing civilian casualties, the region's leadership said on Saturday.

Barzani says Turkey sent arms to KRG, PYD members treated in Turkey. (Iran sent us two airplanes full of weapons)

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani has said Turkey sent arms to the Kurdish government in northern Iraq but requested that this not be made public. He also said Turkey is treating more than 400 people from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) who were wounded during the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) advance on the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria.

EU gives European governments go-ahead to arm Iraqi Kurds

BRUSSELS - The European Union gave a green light on Friday to individual EU governments to supply arms and ammunition to Iraqi Kurds battling Islamist militants, provided they had the consent of authorities in Baghdad.
EU foreign ministers holding an emergency meeting in Brussels on the Iraq and Ukraine crises welcomed the decision by several EU governments to send weapons in response to an appeal by Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani.

Peshmerga forces (Kurdish fighters) receive US and France weaponry

All kinds of heavy and high-tech weapons from France and U.S. are being distributed among peshmerga forces, a senior Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) official said on Thursday.
The U.S. and France responded to a request from KRG President Massoud Barzani asking for heavy weaponry from the U.S. and the EU countries in their fight against the militants who have been terrorizing the northern parts of the already volatile country since early June.

Iraq's Kurds push for independence referendum (Massoud Barzani on Thursday instructed Kurdish lawmakers to prepare a referendum).

Country moves step closer to breaking up as regional government's president calls for preparation for vote to begin.....

The president of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq has asked his parliament to prepare for a referendum on independence, potentially paving the way for the break-up of the country.

Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, called on parliament on Thursday to form an independent electoral commission that would start organising a referendum on independence for the semi-autonomous region.