Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2011

Preventing Arab-Kurd Conflict in Iraq after the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces

Emma Sky

March 2011

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

Since the fall of the former regime in 2003, there has been continuous concern that fighting might break out between the Arabs and the Kurds over Kirkuk and the boundary of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Unless new conflict prevention mechanisms are put in place, there is a real risk that tensions could boil over as people tire of waiting for a political resolution.