Kurdish officials are ‘disappointed’ with United States response to Kurdish-Iraqi conflict

Kurdish officials seeking independence are calling on the United States to intervene in their intensifying conflict with Iraqi forces.

{mosads}”What we’ve seen is a reaction that is totally disproportionate and we’re actually very disappointed that the United States has not taken a stronger stance,” Bayan Rahman, a representative from the Kudristan Regional Government, told The Hill. 

Kurdistan, a region in northern Iraq, held a referendum vote for independence in September intended to empower their government to take steps toward becoming a sovereign nation.

Though Kurdistan’s efforts were only symbolic, the Iraqi government condemned the move and sent its military forces into Kurdish territory, sparking violent clashes. 

Rahman told The Hill that Kurdish officials have spoken to lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the conflict, and she says there’s broad support for Kurdistan. 

“We need Americans to speak out and encourage Baghdad and Kurdistan to engage in dialogue,” she said. 

President Trump’s administration, which didn’t support the referendum, has not intervened. 

This week, the Kurdish government offered to end its referendum and called for a cease-fire. 

Early Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered an immediate stop to military activity in northern Iraq for 24 hours.