Why did the Kurds flee Iraq?

Persian Gulf war and consequent rebellions Four days later, 1,500 refugees had died from exposure. Following the 1991 uprising of the Iraqi people against Saddam Hussein, many Kurds were forced to flee the country to become refugees in bordering regions of Iran and Turkey.

Who controls Kirkuk?

Battle of Kirkuk (2017)

Date	15–20 October 2017 (5 days)
Location	Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq
Result	Major Iraqi government victory
Territorial changes	Iraqi government retakes control of the entire Kirkuk Governorate, including the city of Kirkuk, Kirkuk Air Base, and Kirkuk Airport by 20 October

What is the goal of the Kurds?

Since the 1970s, Iraqi Kurds have pursued the goal of greater autonomy and even outright independence against the Iraqi nationalist Ba’ath Party regimes, which responded with brutal repression, including the massacre of 182,000 Kurds in the Anfal genocide.

What did Iraq do to the Kurds?

During the Anfal campaign the Iraqi military attacked about 250 Kurdish villages with chemical weapons and destroyed Kurdish 4500 villages and evicted its inhabitants. The campaign culminated in the Halabja massacre in March 1988.

Is Kirkuk a contested area?

The disputed areas have been a core concern for many Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens, especially since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and the subsequent political restructuring. Kirkuk Governorate, strategically important because of its oil fields, was retaken by Iraqi government forces in the Battle of Kirkuk (2017).

Is Kirkuk safe?

In terms of crime, Kirkuk can be considered a reasonably safe city. Here, the low crime index for all types of crime. However, due to the high risk of terrorism and hostilities in the region, the city cannot be considered safe for travel. The city is known for the case of kidnapping.

Is Kirkuk in the KRI?

The Kurdistan Region Parliament is situated in Erbil, but the constitution of the Kurdistan Region declares the disputed city of Kirkuk to be the capital of the Kurdistan Region.