Iraq's Shiite Militias Have Launched A New Offensive Against The Kurds

Kurdish Peshmerga military vehicles are seen during a battle with Islamic State militants at Jarbuah village near Bashiqa near Mosul, Iraq October 28, 2016. Ahmed Jadallah, Reuters

CNBC: Iraq paramilitaries battle Kurds in push towards Turkish border oil hub

Iraqi pro-government paramilitaries launched an offensive against Kurdish troops on Tuesday near the Turkish frontier, pushing towards a strategic border crossing and oil export pipeline hub that Baghdad says must come under its control.

The Iraqi government has transformed the balance of power in the north of the country since launching a campaign last week to seize back territory from the Kurds, who govern an autonomous region of three northern provinces and had also seized a swathe of other territory in northern Iraq.

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WNU Editor: This has the potential of descending into all out war, and this remark from the Iraqi PM is destroying any chances of reconciliation .... Abadi tells Tillerson: PMF is hope of Iraq and region (Al Jazeera).