{
  "id": 5783959,
  "title": "The Kurds rose as Syria and Iraq collapsed - now, their fortunes are reversing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/the-kurds-rose-as-syria-and-iraq-collapsed-now-their-fortunes-are",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T14:50:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-907527"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the last five years, the fortunes of the Kurds have been in steep decline following the disbanding of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North East Syria. A decade ago, Kurdish forces controlled a contiguous area stretching from the Iraq-Iran border in the east to Afrin in Syria in the west, encompassing oil resources, fertile agricultural lands, and crucial water sources. This territorial control was divided among three rival Kurdish political factions: the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).\n\nThe growth in Kurdish power was driven by a decline in central state authority in Syria and Iraq, creating an environment where militias based on ethnic, religious, or tribal identity were able to thrive. Kurdish forces were viewed favorably by Western powers for their secular and pro-Western nature, organizational skills, and willingness to defend their territories. The Kurds played a pivotal role in the US-led campaign to eradicate the Islamic State \"Caliphate\" in Syria and formed the core infantry unit in the operation.\n\nHowever, since reaching their peak in 2016, several factors have led to a substantial reduction in Kurdish assets and influence. In 2017, the KDP-led Iraqi Kurdistan launched a premature independence referendum, which, although confirming the desire for statehood, lacked the necessary diplomatic groundwork and military preparation for a successful bid for sovereignty. The Iraqi army, supported by Iran, launched a military campaign against the Kurdish-held areas, resulting in the loss of 40% of Kurdish lands, including the oil-rich Kirkuk region.\n\nThe truncated Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has continued to face setbacks. In February 2022, the Iraqi Federal Court ruled that the KRG could no longer independently export oil, leading to a 30-month freeze on oil exports and significant revenue losses for both the KRG and Iraq. An agreement in September 2025 temporarily resolved the issue, but it resulted in the KRG losing control over the sale of oil, with all crude oil now delivered directly to Iraq's federal State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO).\n\nMoreover, the United States is planning to end security assistance to the KRG's armed forces, the Peshmerga, as Iran has launched a series of attacks against the Kurds since the resumption of the war in February of this year. With ISIS defeated, Washington sees no reason to maintain its support for the Kurdish forces.\n\nIn Syria, the US decision to back the emerging Sunni Islamist regime in Damascus effectively ended the Kurdish autonomous administration. Following a swift military push in January 2024, the remnants of the SDF retreated to the Kurdish areas in northeast Syria, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the force. The deal with Damascus represents a marked decline in Kurdish autonomy, with some concessions like permitting Kurdish language education and granting citizenship to stateless Kurds, but the once-powerful Kurdish presence in Syria has been significantly diminished.",
  "summary": "BEHIND THE LINES: If and when the current strategy fails, the Kurds may need to be reached again. Hopefully, by the time this occurs, they will be able to take advantage of the moment in full.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kurdish powers peaked in 2016 controlling territory from Iraq-Iran border to Afrin.",
    "Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration dissolved in Syria, Iraqi independence referendum failed.",
    "US ending security assistance to Peshmerga as Iran attacks Kurds."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Iraq completes investigation into thousands of ISIS detainees formerly held in Syria - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/iraq-completes-investigation-into-thousands-of-isis-detainees",
        "published": "2026-09-05T18:40:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}