Masoud Barzani

(Newser) - President Trump is quietly working the phones as the US-Israeli war with Iran unfolds—and he's reaching out to the Kurds. Sources tell Axios that on Sunday, Trump spoke with Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, leaders of Iraq's two main Kurdish factions, in conversations described as being "...

(Newser) - The Kurds clearly want their own nation: Monday's referendum on independence from Iraq was approved by more than 92% of voters, officials said Wednesday. Even with the strong support, however, the non-binding vote is unlikely to lead to formal independence, per the AP . But the vote has escalated long-running...

(Newser) - In what is being hailed as a breakthrough in Iraq, Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders yesterday  announced that they have reached a consensus on key political issues, Reuters reports. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the other leaders claimed to have forged an agreement on releasing some detainees, easing curbs on...