Who really controls Kurdistan’s gas? The Dana Gas deal, the KRG’s silence and the hidden cost of selling energy to Iraq

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis      A $2.239 billion arbitration settlement, a contract running until 2049, expanded rights for Pearl Petroleum and a new battle over gas sales to Baghdad are raising uncomfortable questions about who ultimately controls Kurdistan’s most strategic natural resource. The latest dispute over Khor Mor gas is exposing a much deeper problem in the Kurdistan Region’s energy sector: the public still does not appear to have a clear picture of who controls the region’s gas, who is authorized to sell it, and how much of its future value has already been committed to private companies. At the center of the controversy is Pearl Petroleum, the consortium led by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, and a settlement agreement reached with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on August 30, 2017. Kurdistan Parliament member Kawa Sheikh Ali has now sharply criticized that agreement, asking why a government would effectively commit its natural ...

Syrian Army declares nationwide military alert, reinforces Iraqi border amid rising regional tensions


By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis

 Reports of troop deployments along the Syria-Iraq frontier come as Baghdad faces growing pressure over cross-border militia activity and fears of wider regional escalation.

Syria has reportedly declared a nationwide military alert and deployed forces to the Iraqi border as regional tensions and concerns over militia activity continue to grow.

The Syrian military has reportedly declared a nationwide state of military alert and begun deploying additional forces to the Iraqi border, according to multiple regional media reports, in a move that underscores mounting security concerns across the Middle East.

According to Al Arabiya Al Hadath, Syria's Ministry of Defense ordered all military units into a heightened state of readiness and instructed soldiers to immediately return to their bases.

The ministry has not publicly explained the reasons behind the alert.

Troop Movements Toward the Iraqi Border

Military sources cited by regional media said Syrian units have begun moving toward areas bordering Iraq as part of an urgent deployment order.

The reported movements come amid increasing regional tensions following recent attacks involving Iran-backed armed groups and growing fears that instability could spread across neighboring states.

The reports have not been independently verified.

Baghdad Closely Monitoring the Border

According to political and military sources cited by local Kurdish media, Iraqi authorities are closely monitoring developments along the Syrian frontier.

One politically informed source claimed that some Iraqi officials believe recent attacks against Saudi Arabia have altered the regional security environment, potentially prompting neighboring countries to increase military preparedness along Iraq's western border.

Another senior military source reportedly said security agencies are monitoring what they described as unusual military activity on the Syrian side of the border, including the reported reorganization of armed formations.

The source further alleged that some of the newly organized units could include foreign fighters alongside Syrian personnel. Those claims remain unverified.

Regional Warnings to Baghdad

The reported military deployments coincide with increasing diplomatic pressure on Baghdad over cross-border security.

According to military sources, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have warned Iraqi authorities that any future attacks launched from Iraqi territory against their countries could trigger direct retaliation against the bases of armed groups operating inside Iraq.

Iraqi officials have not publicly confirmed the details of those reported warnings.

Following U.S.-Saudi Airstrikes

The latest developments follow reports of joint U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeting bases used by Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq after drone attacks against Saudi energy infrastructure.

Those operations have further heightened tensions across the region and raised concerns that neighboring countries are preparing for the possibility of a broader regional confrontation.

A Region on Edge

While there is no official indication that Syria is preparing offensive military operations against Iraq, the reported troop deployments highlight the increasingly fragile security environment along one of the Middle East's most sensitive frontiers.

With multiple state and non-state actors operating across the region, any further escalation could significantly affect regional stability and increase pressure on governments seeking to prevent a wider conflict.

#Syria #Iraq #MiddleEast #Security #Geopolitics #KurdishPolicyAnalysis

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