Why are the Kurds and Turkey fighting?
The Kurdish–Turkish conflict is an armed conflict between the Republic of Turkey and various Kurdish insurgent groups who have either demanded separation from Turkey to create an independent Kurdistan, or attempted to secure autonomy and greater political and cultural rights for Kurds inside the Republic of Turkey.
Is Kurdistan independent from Iraq?
The 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum took place on September 25, with 92.73\% voting in favor of independence. This triggered a military operation in which the Iraqi government retook control of Kirkuk and surrounding areas, and forced the KRG to annul the referendum.
How long have the Kurds and Turkey been fighting?
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
| Date | 24 July 2015 – present (6 years, 4 months, 2 weeks and 2 days) |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern and Southeastern Turkey, Northern Syria, Northern Iraq |
| Status | Ongoing |
What did Turkey do to Kurdistan?
In December 2015, Turkish military operations against Kurdish rebels in Turkish Kurdistan have killed hundreds of civilians, displaced hundreds of thousands, and caused massive destruction in residential areas.
What country has the most Kurds?
Autochthonous community
| Country | Official figures or estimates | Further information |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 13,200,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 14,700,000 (2017 CFR estimate) | Kurds in Turkey |
| Iran | 6,100,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 8,100,000 (2017 CFR estimate) | Kurds in Iran |
| Iraq | 4,400,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 5,450,000 (2015 EPRS estimate) | Kurds in Iraq |
What is the size of Kurdistan?
15,692 mi²
Kurdistan Region/Area
Does Russia support Kurds?
After the Cold War, Russia established ties with the newly founded autonomous Kurdistan Region and relations are described as ambivalent and contradictory but Moscow has been sympathetic to the Kurdistan independence movement for decades which also included military support for the Kurds.