Political August 20, 2014 Italy considers sending arms to Peshmerga forces Rome: Italy is considering supplying arms to Iraqi Kurds "within two or three days" to help them battle the militant group calling itself the Islamic State, the Italian Defence Ministry said Tuesday. (Ekurd.net) Kurdish negotiating delegation to arrive Baghdad next week: Othman Baghdad: A leading figure of the Kurdistan Alliance, former MP, Mahmoud Othman said "Kurdish negotiating delegation would arrive in Baghdad early next week”, stressing that high demands of the political blocs would make it difficult to form a new government. (ninanews.com) Clashes between PKK fighters and IS militants in Sinjar Sinjar: Clashes broke out between PKK guerrillas, Sinjar Resistance Units (YBŞ) and ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Sham) militants in Sikînê village of Sinjar. (firtatnews.com) IS militants force Kurdish people to flee Jalawla Diyala: An official spokesman of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Khanaqin, Hemin Mansour, said that Islamic State (IS) militants have started to evict any remaining Kurdish families from Jalawla and have demolished some houses belonging to Kurdish residents of the town. (basnews.com) August 21, 2014 British citizen killed in Erbil Erbil: A police source in Erbil revealed on Thursday death of a British citizen working in one of the private companies, while storming a house in the English village in the center of Erbil. (shafaaq.com) Bremer: American heavy weapons on their way to Peshmerga forces The former American civil governor in Iraq announced that US heavy and modern arms were uploaded by sea on its way to Kurdistan region to be delivered to Peshmerga forces that are fighting terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), stressing that the U.S. air raids on ISIS sites will continue. (Shafaaq.com) August 22, 2014 PKK fighters positioned around Duhok to protect the city from ISIS attacks Duhok: A group of PKK-YJA STAR guerrillas has reached Duhok and taken up positions in the mountains around the Kurdish city in order to protect the people from ISIS jihadist attacks. (Ekurd.net) 1 August 23, 2014 A number of Gorran (Change) leading officials reportedly resign Slaimaniya: In protest to the leader’s movement to remain silent in face of recent developments in Kurdistan Region and neglecting demands, a number of Gorran (Change) movement leading officials resigned the movement and rejoined Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). (Ekurd.net) Peshmerga forces push back IS in two strategic towns Khanaqin: Peshmerga forces launched a multi-pronged attack against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Jalawla and Sadiya on Friday, pushing back the militants and advancing to the gates of both towns, Kurdish military officials said. (Rudaw.net) Croatia decides to send arms to Iraqi Kurdistan Croatia stated it would send light arms to Iraqi Kurds who are fighting militants of the Islamic State, mentioning it would send the arms based on the demands of the US, Utaric List daily reported on Friday. (Kurdpress.ir) Austria delivers humanitarian aid to Kurdistan Region Erbil: The Austrian government has delivered eight tons of medical supplies to the Kurdistan Region, enough for 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) for three months. (Rudaw.net) Belgium plans to provide humanitarian assistance to Kurdistan Region Erbil - Brussels: Belgian Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders said that Belgium plans to provide humanitarian assistance to Kurdistan Region through the local capital of Erbil. (Shfaaq.com) Shaways to Yazidis: KRG is working to rescue people in areas controlled by ISIS Erbil: Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and leader of KDP, Roj Nuri Shaways confirmed that KRG is working with all its efforts to provide safe havens, and to create humanitarian supplies for all displaced people inside and outside Kurdistan region, including Yazidi Kurds. (shafaaq.com) August 24, 2014 20 ISIS militants and 8 Peshmerga troops killed, wounded in Jalawla Jalawla: A security source in Diyala revealed on Sunday that 8 Peshmerga troops were killed and wounded in explosion targeted their patrol in Jalawla, 70 km northeast of Baquba, while pointing out a fall of more than 20 militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in the bombing of warplanes. (shafaaq.com) Kurdish security Asayish forces arrest four suspects related to explosion in Erbil Erbil: Asayish forces have arrested four suspects related to the blast in Erbil Saturday afternoon. (basnews.com) Britain appoints Senior Defense adviser as military representative in Kurdistan Britain will supply Kurdish forces with "non-lethal" equipment, including night-vision goggles and body armor, in their fight against Islamic militants in northern Iraq. (Basnews.com) 2 Peshmerga forces will never quit disputed regions: MP Erbil: A Kurdish MP in Kurdistan parliament stated Peshmerga forces will never leave the disputed regions that they controlled after the assault of the jihadist militants two months ago. (kurdpress.ir) UNHCR says 'yes' to new camp for Makhmur, but gives no date Slaimaniya: A UNHCR delegation has carried out an initial exploration following a request by the displaced residents of the Makhmour refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan Region for a new camp location. (Firatnews.com) August 25, 2014 Almost all Mosul dam disposed: Peshmerga official Erbil: KRG Peshmerga Ministry Media Chief, Halgurd Hikmat said most of Mosul dam has been disposed by a special team. (Kurdpress.ir) Biden in a phone call with Barzani declares support for the Peshmerga forces in fighting ISIS Erbil: US Vice President Joe Biden spoke with the KR President Masoud Barzani on Sunday to discuss security and political challenges facing Iraq. (krp.org) August 26, 2014 Zarif: Iraq and Kurdistan do not need our protection Erbil: Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif denied the presence of Iranian armed elements fighting militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in Iraqi territory. (Shafaaq.com) Iran helped Iraqi Kurdistan in fighting ISIS: Iran’s interior minister Tehran: Iran’s interior minister says Iran recently helped Peshmerga forces in Iraq in their battle against the ISIS militants in the Kurdistan region. (Ekurd.net) Hungary provides humanitarian assistance to Kurdistan Erbil: Hungary’s Ambassador to Iraq, Mr Tibor Szatmari, met with the Head of the KRG Foreign Relations Department Falah Mustafa, to express his government’s support for Kurdistan. (krg.org) August 27, 2014 Peshmerga reconfirms: Mosul Dam is under our control, we’ll sue anyone spread lies and rumors Mosul: Peshmerga Ministry Media Chief Halgurd Hikmat denied that the militants of the Islamic State have retaken the control of Mosul dam, the biggest dam in Iraq. (Ekurd.net) 3 Peshmerga forces begin training with weapons from America and France Erbil: A Kurdish military source said on Wednesday that the Peshmerga forces in Kurdistan began training on the use of a number of weapons that were delivered from the United States and France. (Iraqinews.com) Iraqi Kurdistan welcomed a decision by a United States district court in Houston Erbil: KRG welcomed a decision by a United States District Court in Houston, Texas, which dissolved an order that prohibited more than 1 million barrels of oil produced in the Kurdistan Region from reaching the United States. (Krg.org) Peshmerga forces received weapons from US and France: minister Erbil: Peshmerga Minister Mustafa Seyyed Ghader said KRG has received weapons from France and the US and is waiting arms from Germany and Britain. (Kurd Press) Kurdish official arrested after Erbil bomb attack Erbil: Security forces revealed they have received important information in regards to last week’s car explosion in Erbil, which injured four people. They arrested an official of the KRG Ministry of Endowment & Religious Affairs, after it was discovered that his son has joined Islamic State (IS) Militants and they have been in touch by phone, according to sources close to the investigation. (Basnews.com) Denmark sending arms to Peshmerga forces Copenhagen: Denmark is joining the international effort to arm Peshmerga forces in their fight against Islamic extremists, though some leaders are concerned that the weapons will fall into the hands of Kurdish rebels. (rudaw.net) August 28, 2014 KR President Barzani meets commander of US Central Command General Austin Erbil: KR President Masoud Barzani met with the commander of the US Central Command General Lloyd Austin in Salahaddin on Wednesday, KR presidency's website reported. The President and the US General discussed the military campaign currently underway against the ISIS militants and the military support of the US to the Peshmerga forces. (Ekurd.net) August 29, 2014 Chief of executive of PUK Mala Bakhtiar, survived an assassination attempt south of Kirkuk Kirkuk: A member of the political bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Mala Bakhtiar survived on Thursday an assassination attempt south of Kirkuk. (Ekurd.net) August 30, 2014 Peshmerga forces enter Zumar, large-scale and fierce battles with jihadists 4 Erbil: Peshmerga forces managed to liberate a number of villages in Zumar sub-district and progress within the area. (Shafaaq.com) Canada delivers weapons to Peshmerga forces in Kurdistan Ottawa: Canada delivered military supplies donated by Albania to Peshmerga forces fighting the militants of the Islamic State, Canada's prime ministry said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reported. (Ekurd.net) UN: 10 000 families have been displaced to Khanaqin in two weeks. (shafaaq.com) KRG asks oil companies to provide support for refugees Erbil: Ministry of Natural Resources has asked international oil companies to support the humanitarian relief efforts dealing with the massive new influx of refugees into the Kurdistan Region. (basnews.com) August 31, 2014 UN and KRG Statistics: 1000 sites in Kurdistan receive 850,000 Iraqi refugees. (shafaaq.com) Economic August 20, 2014 KRG: 7 million barrels of Kurdish oil sold internationally Erbil: Kurdistan Region has sold 7 million barrels of oil internationally and is confident it will also win the right to sell in the United States, KRG Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami said.