Kurdistan Democratic Party Says No Longer Boycotting Iraqi Kurdistan Elections

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (R), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C) and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo)
Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (R), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C) and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo)
TT

Kurdistan Democratic Party Says No Longer Boycotting Iraqi Kurdistan Elections

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (R), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C) and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo)
Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani (R), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C) and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani. (AFP file photo)

The Kurdistan Democratic Party, headed by Masoud Barzani, announced that it was no longer going to boycott the Iraqi Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections.

The boycott was prompted by objections to the mechanisms related to how to hold the elections.

A KDP official said the party would be taking part in the polls given the changes that have been introduced to the mechanism.

The elections were set for June 10.

The KDP announced the boycott in protest against the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq’s ruling related to the elections, such as eliminating the quota allotted to minorities in the Kurdistan parliament.

The court has since gone back on the ruling.

KDP MP Ekhlas al-Dulaimy told Asharq Al-Awsat that the boycott was sparked by the court rulings and now that some changes have been made, the party will participate in the elections.

She revealed that Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani will issue within two days a decree to set a new date for the elections.

She stressed that the KDP was never against holding the elections or their timing. It had twice called for holding them, however, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan had demanded that they be postponed.

Nechervan Barzani had visited Baghdad following what was described as a successful visit to Iran last month.

In Baghdad, he attended meetings for the State Administration Coalition that backs the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani visited Baghdad last week where he met the majority of political and partisan leaderships. He also held talks with Iraqi President Abdul Latif al-Rashid, Sudani and acting parliament Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi.



US Military Says it Killed 2 ISIS Operatives in Syria Airstrike

Guns and hand grenades surrendered by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army and pro-government militias, are displayed in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guns and hand grenades surrendered by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army and pro-government militias, are displayed in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
TT

US Military Says it Killed 2 ISIS Operatives in Syria Airstrike

Guns and hand grenades surrendered by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army and pro-government militias, are displayed in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guns and hand grenades surrendered by members of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad's army and pro-government militias, are displayed in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

The US military said on Monday it conducted an airstrike in Syria that killed two ISIS operatives and wounded one.

ISIS operatives were moving a truckload of weapons in Deir Ezzor Province, when they were targeted with the airstrike, US Central Command said in a statement on social media platform X.

Central Command said the area was formerly controlled by ex-President Bashar Assad’s regime and its Russian supporters.

Assad fled to Moscow after opposition forces seized control of Damascus earlier this month.