Policy Brief

The Effects Of The ISIS Operations On The Turkmens

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)1, which has dominated headlines, has been continuing its offensive, causing a crisis among the people in areas in the northern part of Iraq, where it has captured. Especially the Sunni Arabs and Turkmens are facing hard times in the cities under the ISIS, rule such as Mosul, Tel Afar, Salahaddin and Diyala, in which they constitute the majority. The Sunni Arabs, while being under risks due to the ISIS operations, are not under a direct threat. However, for the Turkmens, who live in the same region as the Sunni Arabs, the ISIS advance constitutes both direct and indirect threats to their survival.