Masrour Barzani

Iranian-backed militias escalate in Iraq, targeting Kurdistan Region president Nechirvan Barzani

The attack has been condemned by France and Iraq, but Iran has distanced itself from the incident.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, gives a joint press conference with France's Foreign Minister in Arbil, the regional capital, on February 5, 2026.
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (not in picture) during the Munich Security conference in Munich , southern Germany February 14, 2020.

Kurdish PM Barzani meets with Egypt's Sisi to discuss Middle East stability, trade deals

Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo. Both the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Egypt play important roles in the region.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A fire blazes at Khor Mor Oil and Gas field following a drone strike, November 26, 2025.

Drone attack suspends operations at major Iraq gas field, power cuts occur across Kurdish region

A drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq causes major power outages in northern regions, damaging key infrastructure and halting gas supplies to power stations.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Commander-in-chief of the SDF, General Mazloum Abdi, in his military uniform.

Israel must deepen its alliance with Kurds as Syria fractures - opinion

As long as Turkey and Qatar continue interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, the threat against minorities, including the Kurds, the Druze, and the Alawites, will continue.

|BySUZAN QUITAZ

Kurdistan Region looks to future with US ties - analysis

Kurdistan PM Barzani visits Washington to strengthen US ties and secure energy deals amid regional tensions.

MAY 21, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (not in picture) during the Munich Security conference in Munich , southern Germany February 14, 2020.

Iraq’s Kurdish region alarmed by U.S. withdrawal

Discussions to try and soften Ankara’s stance, dilute PKK role in eastern Syria came to naught.

DECEMBER 20, 2018BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A KURDISH peshmerga soldier stands at a lookout near Bashiqa in northern Iraq

Masrour Barzani set to be next prime minister of Kurdish region in Iraq

Nechirvan Barzani, who has served as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, was nominated for President

DECEMBER 3, 2018BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Iraqi Kurdish security chief Masrour Barzani, casts his vote, during parliamentary elections in the semi-autonomous region, on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq September 30, 2018.