Iraqi armed forces have seized the city of Kirkuk, and reportedly 100,000 Kurds are now fleeing the region out of fear of persecution. This all follows an independence referendum for Iraqi Kurdistan in September, which overwhelmingly favored secession from Iraq. On Friday, Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters clashed as Iraqi units moved north of Kirkuk to the town of Altun Kupri. According to reports from Kurdish sources in the region, Iraqi forces have looted and destroyed homes belonging to Kurds in the city. The United Nations has expressed concerns about these reports, but the Iraqi government has denied the allegations. … Continue reading 100,000 Kurds Flee Kirkuk