Whenever the specter of tension looms over the skies of the Middle East, and the language of rockets and drones intensifies among regional and international powers, attention automatically shifts towards the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The region has never been an instigator or an aggressive force towards its neighbors; rather, it has sought for decades to build a unique experience based on security, development, and coexistence. However, the region finds itself repeatedly in the “eye of the storm,” serving as a battleground for settling scores and a conduit for delivering deterrent messages between adversaries. What has turned this successful experience into a perpetual target for the fires of conflict?
The Kurdistan Region lies at the intersection of complex strategic interests. Between Iran’s influence, Turkey’s ambitions, and the military presence of the international coalition led by Washington, the region finds itself at the heart of a challenging geopolitical equation. Targeting Erbil is not merely a security act but an attempt to exert indirect pressure on the United States and its allies. While some view the presence of coalition forces at Erbil Airport as necessary for protecting the region from remnants of ISIS, regional powers and their affiliated militias see it as a leverage that can be manipulated through missiles to extort the international community or improve negotiation terms.
Perhaps the greatest crime committed by the Kurdistan Region in the eyes of its detractors is its relative success. While large parts of the region sink into chaos, corruption, and civil wars, the region has managed to build infrastructure, attract global investments, and provide an environment of freedom and cultural and religious diversity. This stable model raises concerns among some powers that fear the contagion of construction and democracy might spill over into their borders or that the Kurds might provide practical evidence that good governance and political moderation are the only paths to prosperity, thereby embarrassing regimes based on rigid ideologies or chaos.
The Kurds have paid a heavy price with the blood of their sons in the Peshmerga forces defending the region and the world at large. In 2014, Erbil was the first line of defense that halted the expansion of the ISIS terrorist organization. The region did not stop at defending its borders but was also a key partner in liberating other Iraqi areas. Additionally, it played an exceptional humanitarian role by hosting nearly two million displaced persons and refugees, providing a model of altruism despite financial crises. This leadership role has made the region a significant player in international politics, which irritates powers seeking to weaken the Kurdish component and marginalize its political and national role.
Targeting has no longer been limited to military actions; it has transformed into a systematic economic war. Bombing vital facilities such as energy fields, obstructing oil exports, and cutting financial budgets by certain parties in Baghdad are all tools aimed at subjugating the region and breaking its political will. A crucial point also arises from Erbil’s firm refusal to be a corridor for smuggling weapons or drugs for regional agendas, prompting these powers to attempt to cripple Erbil International Airport’s operations and disrupt its developmental role.
Within Iraq, some politicians and influencers resort to pointing fingers at Kurdistan to justify their failure to provide services and rebuild cities in central and southern Iraq. This is an obvious attempt to mislead Iraqi public opinion; while billions of dollars flow into pockets of corruption and favoritism in Baghdad, the Kurdistan Region’s budget is portrayed as the cause of poverty in Basra or Nasiriyah. The truth is that despite its limited resources compared to the center, Kurdistan has invested what it has in reconstruction, while Iraq’s wealth has been squandered in futile conflicts.
The history of the Kurdish people, from the tragedy of Halabja and Anfal to heroic resistance against ISIS, proves that the language of intimidation will not be effective. The Kurdistan Region will remain a target as long as it adheres to the choice of peace, construction, and coexistence, and as long as it refuses to be subservient to axes that destroy rather than build. Protecting this model is not solely the responsibility of the Kurds; it is a moral and political necessity for the international community and for Iraqis aspiring for stability. Weakening Kurdistan means weakening the last bastion of stability in a region that cannot bear more fires. The question remains: when will others realize that Kurdistan’s strength and prosperity are an addition to the region rather than a threat to anyone?
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
