White Banners Movement Ignites War of Words Among Iraqi Factions

At gunpoint. An Iraqi flag mounted on a military vehicle at an oil field in Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk. Reuters
At gunpoint. An Iraqi flag mounted on a military vehicle at an oil field in Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk. Reuters
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White Banners Movement Ignites War of Words Among Iraqi Factions

At gunpoint. An Iraqi flag mounted on a military vehicle at an oil field in Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk. Reuters
At gunpoint. An Iraqi flag mounted on a military vehicle at an oil field in Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk. Reuters

Despite all its strength and cruelty against Iraqi factions, ISIS failed in dividing Iraqis although the terrorist group used all the methods of intimidation and intrigue during its reign in the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" period, which extended for three years (from 2014 till 2017).

The organization has become widely known as "White Banners", and it seems to be able to divide the Iraqis through their three main ethnic groups; Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, especially after igniting war of words and exchange of accusations among them all.

As soon as Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced in late 2017 the military victory on ISIS, the White Banner movement emerged and started to be circulated in the media through its criminal practices, such as killings, booby trapping or even installing fake security checkpoints.

It was considered a replacement for ISIS or a new version of it, such as the fourth or fifth generation, as circulated in the media.

However, the deep differences that took place after the referendum of the Kurdistan region, which took place on September 25, and the entry of Iraqi forces to Kirkuk and taking control over all disputed areas on October 16 led to a somehow radical change in the political map that was torn apart by variables that were not calculated by any political, ethnic or sectarian party.

Once everyone woke from the trauma of what has happened, a new enemy has already begun to emerge. Although it is using some of ISIS’s criminal mechanisms of action, yet it works in isolation, making it a matter of deep disagreement after each side has claimed responsibility for its support.

Kurdish academic Dr. Abdulhakim Khusro, a professor of political science at the University of Salahaddin in Erbil, who is also close to the Kurdistan Democratic Party, told Asharq Al-Awat that the White Banners “was formed from the remnants of the Baathists, Ansar al-Islam and Naqshbandi movement, and the majority of the Kurds who fought with them were killed.”

For his part, expert on terrorist groups Hisham al-Hashemi told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the White Banners movement is a Kurdish national armed group that rebelled against the events of October 16, 2017, when the federal government controlled Kirkuk and the disputed areas.”

"They do not call themselves ‘the white banners people’; instead, they call themselves the armed Kurdish resistance to liberate Kirkuk. They have nothing to do with the religious ideologies, so they are not al-Qaeda, ISIS, Baathists or Salafists," Hashemi said.



US Top Diplomat Meets Syrian Counterpart; Discuss End of Iran’s Influence 

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the NEST International Convention Center, in Antalya on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the NEST International Convention Center, in Antalya on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
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US Top Diplomat Meets Syrian Counterpart; Discuss End of Iran’s Influence 

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the NEST International Convention Center, in Antalya on May 15, 2025. (AFP)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the NEST International Convention Center, in Antalya on May 15, 2025. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Türkiye on Thursday, the State Department said in a statement.

"(Rubio) welcomed the Syrian government’s calls for peace with Israel, efforts to end Iran’s influence in Syria, commitment to ascertaining the fate of US citizens missing or killed in Syria, and elimination of all chemical weapons," the department said.

"The Secretary underscored the critical importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion," the department said.

Earlier, Rubio revealed that the US is likely to issue some sanctions relief to Syria in coming weeks following President Donald Trump's announcement that all sanctions targeting Damascus would be lifted.

Rubio said on Thursday that Trump intends to issue waivers under the "Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act", through which Washington imposed stiff sanctions on former President Bashar al-Assad's government and secondary sanctions on outside companies or governments that worked with it.

A Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Thursday that the Treasury Department "would likely issue general licenses covering a broad range of the economy that is critical to rebuilding in the coming weeks."

Trump said on Tuesday that he would order the lifting of all sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, in a major US policy shift that took some in his own administration off guard and left the Treasury and State departments scrambling to understand how to unwind the sanctions.

Speaking to reporters in Antalya, Türkiye, Rubio said the US wants to do everything it can to help achieve a peaceful, stable Syria as the country emerges from 13 years of war.

He added that Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress had asked the Trump administration to use waiver authorities in the "Caesar Act" to lift sanctions.

"That's what the president intends to do. Those waivers have to be renewed every 180 days. Ultimately, if we make enough progress, we'd like to see the law repealed, because you're going to struggle to find people to invest in a country when in six months sanctions could come back," Rubio said.

"We're not there yet, that's premature."

Overturning the bill would require congressional action, but it includes a provision allowing the president to suspend the sanctions for national security reasons. Trump could also issue a general license suspending some or all of the sanctions.

"I think as we make progress hopefully we'll be in a position soon, or one day, to go to Congress and ask them to permanently remove the sanctions," Rubio said.

PREPARATORY WORK UNDERWAY

Syria's foreign minister was in Washington two weeks ago and preparatory work was already under way regarding the Syria sanctions, most of which are statutory under the "Caesar Act," Rubio said.

Removing US sanctions that cut Syria off from the global financial system would clear the way for greater engagement by humanitarian organizations working in Syria, easing foreign investment and trade as the country rebuilds.

Trump said he would remove all sanctions, saying they had served an important function, but it was time for Syria to move forward.

The Treasury Department in a post on X on Thursday said it was working with the State Department and National Security Council to execute Trump's decision.

"We look forward to implementing the necessary authorizations that would be critical to bringing new investment into Syria," it said.

"Treasury's actions can help rebuild Syria's economy, financial sector, and infrastructure and could put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future."