Political September 1, 2014 Peshmerga forces control Zumar district fully Mosul: Peshmerga forces seized control of Zumar district and its outskirts after being captured by elements of the Islamic State in the beginning of August, according to a source in the Ministry of Peshmerga. (ninanews.com) IS jihadists kill 15 Yazidi elders by blowing a shrine in Sinjar Sinjar: Jihadi militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) killed 15 elderly Yazidis after blowing a Yazidi shrine in southwest of Sinjar. (shafaaq.com) 2,761 Yazidi Kurds kidnapped: Iraqi Human Rights Observatory Baghdad: Iraqi Human Rights Observatory disclosed Sunday that the number of kidnapped Yazidi Kurds reached to 2761, 70% of them were females and children. (Aswat al-Iraq) Kurdish authorities "attempt" to free Peshmerga held by IS Erbil: KRG Ministry of Peshmerga revealed that it has tried to free Peshmerga members held by the Islamic State (IS) militants, in collaboration with some well-known Sunni Arab tribal leaders, but without success. (basnews.com) September 2, 2014 Official in Kurdistan says Kurds should set a date for referendum in disputed regions Erbil: The chief of disputed region’s committee in Kurdistan Region said Kurdish officials should discuss with Baghdad officials to set a date for holding the postponed referendum in so-called disputed regions over which both Baghdad and Erbil government claim their authority. (Kurdpress.ir) Masoud Barzani signs on parties’ budget, elections commission and referendum laws in Kurdistan Erbil: The Media adviser in Kurdistan Parliament, Tariq Jawhar revealed on Tuesday, that KR President Masoud Barzani has approved at the end of August the budget of Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan High Electoral Commission (KHEC) and referendum laws in the region. (shafaaq.com) Iranian drone crashes near Sleimaniya Darbandikhan: Source within the Asayish forces said “A drone crashed near Charcha Qalay village of southeastern Sleimaniya city, noting that “Monday morning, an Iranian drone crashed in a village near the Iraqi Kurdistan town of Darbandikhan close to the Iranian border. (basnews.com) 1 American planes drop leaflets warning Mosul residents to stay away from ISIS headquarters before bombing Mosul: According to a local source in Nineveh province, American planes dropped leaflets Monday, calling for the people in Mosul to stay away from the headquarters and gatherings of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in preparation for the its bombardment. (iraqinews.com) ISIS militants withdraw from Daquq towards Hawija Jihadi militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) have withdrawn on Tuesday from the outskirts of Daquq city in Kirkuk province, north of the country, toward Hawija, according to Iraqi security officials. (Shafaaq.com) September 3, 2014 British PM: Kurds leaving UK to fight IS London: Some British Kurds have been heading to the Middle East to fight Islamic State (IS), the prime minister confirmed. (BBC.co.uk – Ekurd) Gulf Keystone returns foreign staff to Kurdistan this week London: Oil producer Gulf Keystone Petroleum said on Wednesday it returned some of its international contractors to Iraqi Kurdistan this week, after employees were evacuated last month because of escalating violence. (Reuters) September 7, 2014 U.S. army launches two new raids near Erbil Washington: US army launched two new raids on targets belonging to the Islamic State (IS) militants near Erbil, which resulted in destruction of military vehicles of the Islamic militants. (Ekud.net) Iraq air strike kills seven in hospital near Kirkuk Baghdad: Iraq's air force Saturday hit a hospital in a town controlled by Islamic State (IS) and other militant groups, killing seven patients and wounded 22 others including children, eyewitnesses said. (Ekurd.net) September 8, 2014 Kurdish Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan flee again from hunger Duhok: Yazidi refugees situated in a camp in Zakho in Kurdistan region began to proceed to other areas due to miserable supply and lack of water and food as well as tents. Over 100,000 people are believed to be located in that refugee camp. (Ekurd.net) Peshmerga forced begin to attack on Ba'shiqa, north of Mosul to clean it from IS Mosul: Peshmerga forces began on Monday attacks to hunt down the IS elements and expel 2 them from Ba'shiqa, 20 km north of Mosul, with support of US air forces, according to a source in the Ministry of Peshmerga. (Ninanews.com) U.S. air strikes and Peshmerga troops: 80 Kurdish Yazidi girls rescued from ISIS captivity With reference to Peshmerga soldiers, Basnews reported that around 80 Yazidi girls who have been captured by IS militants were able to extricate themselves from IS as heavy U.S. air strikes targeted IS positions. (Ekurd.net) Kurds to present evidence of Yazidi genocide to the Hague Erbil: On Sunday Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Yousif Mohammed, together with the Kurdistan Parliament delegation, traveled to the Netherlands following an official invitation by senior Dutch officials. (basnews.com) More than 400 Kurds are fighting for IS: ministry Erbil: KRG Ministry of Endowments said there are more than 400 Kurds who are fighting for militants of the Islamic State (IS). (kurdpress.ir) September 9, 2014 Peshmerga forces reach Hamrin Lake Diyala: A security source in Diyala revealed a progress of Peshmerga forces in the eastern outskirts of Hamrin Lake to encircle Saadia and cut off supplies for militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in Jalawla and Saadia areas. (shafaaq.com) ISIS militants forbid the use of Kurdish language in Mosul Militants of the Islamic State (IS) started to dismiss Kurdish residents from Mosul and arrest others in revenge for their defeats at the hands of Peshmerga forces. (Basnews.com) Masoud Barzani announces his support for Abadi's government Erbil: KR President Masoud Barzani called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi Tuesday to congratulate him as a new Prime Minister of Iraq and wished him success, Kurdistan Presidency website reported. (Ekurd.net) September 10, 2014 Diyala: Peshmerga forces announced its control over the area of Lake Hemrin. (Ekurd.net)1 Erbil: Peshmerga forces received weapons from the U.S., France and Germany, Peshmerga Minister Mustafa Qadir said. (Ekurd.net) 68 Yazidi Kurds succeed in escaping from ISIS prisons in Tal Afar Sinjar: 68 Yazidi Kurds among the detainees held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in Tal Afar arrived to Sinjar after they were able to escape and off-road for two days. (shafaq.com) 3 400 thousand students unable to start school in Iraqi Kurdistan Erbil: It has been reported that at least 400 thousand students in Iraqi Kurdistan have been unable to start their school year, as many refugees fleeing attacks of ISIS have been housed in school buildings. (Ekurd.net) September 11, 2014 Peshmerga fighters accustomed to fight in mountains, but it’s difficult to fight on land: Sirwan Barzani Erbil: A commander of the Peshmerga forces said the fighters of Peshmerga are accustomed to fight in mountains, but it is difficult for them to battle on lands. (kurdpress.ir / Ekurd.net) Arab businessman pays ransom to free 45 Yazidi Kurds from IS militants Mosul: An Arab businessman has paid ransom to release 45 Yazidi Kurds from the captivity of the Islamic State (IS). (Ekurd.net) 100 Kurdish Yazidi women and children recaptured by IS after escaping Sinjar: Arab villagers from Sinjar area revealed that 100 Kurdish Yazidi women and children recaptured by IS Militants after trying to escape. (basnews.com) US agrees to send immediate military aid worth 25 million dollars to Iraq and Kurdistan Washington: According to the memorandum posted on the White House Web site, President Barak Obama agreed to provide "immediate military assistance" worth $ 25 million to the Iraqi government and KRG to assist military training. (shafaaq.com) ISIS new rules in Mosul, Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are forbidden Mosul: Islamic State (IS) militants in Mosul have vowed to punish anyone who sells cigarettes. The Sunni militant group had already set out a number of laws in their wathiqat al-madina (charter of the city) that they presented to the people of Mosul in early June. (basnews.com) 400 bodies found in mass grave northwest of Mosul Nineveh: A local source in Nineveh province on Wednesday said a mass grave containing remains of 400 unidentified bodies was found in northwest of Mosul. (Iraqi News) September 13, 2014 Kurdish delegation to visit Washington Erbil: Department of Foreign Relations of KRG revealed that on Saturday a KRG delegation will visit the United States to meet White House officials. (basnews.com) UN: Kurdistan Region is facing financial difficulties due to the influx of IDP crisis Baghdad: The head of the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Nikolai Moladinov said on Saturday that Kurdistan Region is facing financial difficulties due to the influx of internal displaced people from 4 the regions and cities controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in north and west of the country. (shafaaq.com) IS commander killed in Peshmerga ambush near Syrian border Duhok: Peshmerga forces killed a commander of the Islamic State (IS) militants near Rabia in an ambush Thursday evening, said Peshmerga source. (Rudaw.net) Masoud Barzani: The provided aid for the displaced people in Kurdistan is not at the required level Erbil: KR President, Masoud Barzani praised on Saturday the efforts of the international community and humanitarian organizations to support the displaced people in Kurdistan region, but nevertheless he described it is not at the required level. (Shafaaq.com) Germany to send 40 military trainers to Kurdistan Germany plans to send about 40 paratroopers to Erbil to provide training for weapons to Peshmerga forces fighting Islamic State (IS) insurgency. (kurdpress.ir) September 14, 2014 Yazidi Kurds pledge to free Sinjar district and expel terrorists out of it Mosul: A source in the Ministry of Peshmerga said that security forces of Yazidi Kurds have been mobilized to defend their areas and to get them back from the Islamic State (IS) after being captured at the beginning of August.