The PKK's Growing Influence in Northern Iraq: Beyond the Renewed Tension in Sinjar

With the advance of Barzani’s Roj Peshmerga to Sinjar in early March and the consequent clash between PKK and KDP, it was highlighted that the atmosphere in the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government is quite fragile. Moreover, such a clash also showed that there is a potential in the region that can easily escalate into a conflict and drag regional and international actors in. Such a clash during the offensives against DAESH in Iraq and Syria is also criticized by the United States, claiming that it would damage the endeavors of anti-DAESH coalition. Even though there are actors that oppose PKK presence in Sinjar, due to this complex picture, PKK’s growing influence in the KRG signals an even more difficult campaign with several actors opposing it, in case the conflict is renewed in the future.