Iraqi Kurdistan (Southern Kurdistan) - The Kurdish Region of Iraq, situated in the north of the country, is also known as Southern Kurdistan, in the context of there being a Greater Kurdistan. It is currently a federal autonomous area of Iraq, but has a much troubled history, since it was first assimilated into the brand new British-mandated nation of Iraq, which was created by the Allies after the defeat of the Ottomans in World War 1. Independence fighters began many campaigns against the governing Iraqi powers, and eventually in 1970, Iraqi Kurdistan was given some autonomy within the nation of Iraq. This autonomy within Iraq was eroded, little by little, due to subsequent wars between the Kurds and Iraqi's, and because of the Iran-Iraq war, during which both Iraqi and Iranian Kurdistan suffered disproportionally, as prepared to other areas of Iran and Iraq. During the 1980's, Saddam Hussein then launched the Al-Anfal Campaign, which ruined the land and environment, and which left 100,000 to 200,000 Iraqi Kurds dead. Iraqi troops decimated over 4,000 towns and villages, and herded the Kurds into concentration camps, where they separated the men and older boys from the rest, and killed those whom they deemed to be a threat. Many other Kurds fled into refugee camps in neighbouring Iran and Syria, and the Kurdish population in the area was dramatically lowered, although many did eventually return. During the 1991 First Gulf War, US forces developed a safe haven in Kurdish Iraq, but then reneged on a promise to defend their fight for independence. Saddam then viciously put down that rebellion, leaving massive numbers of Kurds dead, and feeling totally abandoned by the international community. Iraqi Kurdistan then became difficult for Saddam to control, due to the No-Fly-Zone imposed by the US, so it remained independent to a large degree from that point onwards. During the Second Gulf War, that independence was increased, and nowadays it is referred to as a federal entity within the Iraqi constitution, and is fully recognised by the United Nations. Due to it's rich supply of oil and other natural resources, Iraqi Kurdistan has the lowest poverty rates in Iraq, along with the highest standard of living, and it is currently viewed as the most stable area of the country. No coalition soldiers, or any foreigners for that matter, have been harmed in any way throughout the region, since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

The Kurdish Question:
Kurdistan (Greater Kurdistan)
- Iranian Kurdistan (Eastern Kurdistan)
- Iraqi Kurdistan (Southern Kurdistan)
- Syrian Kurdistan (Western Kurdistan)
- Turkish Kurdistan (Northern Kurdistan)