Iraqi Kurds and Sunnis fear intra-Shiite conflict could spiral to other communities
Sunnis and Kurds in Iraq are wary that if unresolved, the fighting among Shiite factions could spill over into their regions.
The Shiite split no longer seems to be limited to central and southern Iraq, the areas of influence of Shiite parties. Its consequences are now also being felt by the Sunni and Kurdish parties in the north and west of the country.
On Aug. 3, the President of Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, warned that Iraq's dangerously tense political and security situation “requires the cooperation of all parties to preserve the security and stability of the country.”
Kurds, this time, do not seem willing to stand by waiting for the Shiites to end their internal spat. On the contrary, they have put forward an initiative to negotiate in Erbil, the capital of the region. This echoes the Kurdish fears that the Shiite-Shiite conflict will affect them.
“We call on the political parties to show utmost restraint and start direct talks to resolve the existing disputes. In this critical period, further exacerbation of the situation will endanger the social harmony, security and stability of the country,” Barzani said in a statement July 31.
