The semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq is at risk of becoming a victim of regional turmoil following the late-February U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran, a former official of Kurdistan Regional Government warned Friday, noting that a U.S. military base in the regional capital of Erbil -- once among the country's most stable cities -- has instead exposed it to danger.
A U.S. military base in Erbil has become a target of Iranian strikes, with the city and its surrounding areas repeatedly hit by drone and rocket attacks over the past several days.
Mohammad Baziani, a former official of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), said in an interview that the U.S. military presence has become a key factor in destabilizing the security and social stability of the Kurdistan Region and could even cause it to become embroiled in wider Middle East tensions.
"The Kurds could become the 'fuel' for this brutal war, which, in my view, will come at the expense of Kurdish interests. Historically, the U.S. and Israel have always attempted to stoke nationalist sentiments and create problems for the existing governments in the region. We have been victims of regional conflicts before," Baziani said.
According to analysts in the Kurdistan Region, Iranian Kurdish opposition groups active in the region have long maintained strongholds in northern Iraq. Although the U.S. has been accused of seeking to use them for cross-border actions to contain Iran, the groups have largely exercised restraint so far, with no large-scale cross-border operations.
Baziani said the Kurdistan region is navigating a complex global political environment as it strives to avoid suffering the havoc of war.
"U.S. President Donald Trump and his team attempted to 'induce' the KRG to turn the region into a corridor, enabling Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq to enter Iranian territory. But the leadership of the Kurdistan Region was very clear-headed, and all walks of life in the region were well aware that such an act would violate the agreement between Iran and the Iraqi governments, namely, not to use each other's territories to harm the interests and security of the other side. Both sides are also trying to avoid conflict and prevent any area, especially the Kurdistan Region, from becoming a battleground for settling scores," Baziani said.
Former official warns Kurdistan region's security threatened by Iran conflict
Former official warns Kurdistan region's security threatened by Iran conflict
Former official warns Kurdistan region's security threatened by Iran conflict
Systematic and proactive deployments tailored to China's evolving agricultural situation are made in the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) to accelerate China's agricultural and rural modernization and solidly promote rural revitalization, said an expert on Friday.
Chinese lawmakers on Thursday approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.
Tu Shengwei, a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission said that in the next five to 10 years, China's agricultural and rural development will enter a phase of profound adjustment. Significant changes will occur in rural spatial forms, supply and demand relationships for agricultural products, population structure, and technological conditions.
"The contents related to agriculture, rural areas, and rural residents in the 15th Five-Year Plan are systematic, comprehensive, and highly instructive. If I had to summarize it in just a few words, I would say, 'proactive response, systematic deployment, and steady progress'," said Tu.
In terms of agricultural modernization, the outline systematically deploys tasks and measures for adopting an all-encompassing approach to agriculture and food. It emphasizes not only strengthening the supply guarantees for essential agricultural products, but also promoting the deep integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas to build a modern agricultural industrial system, production system, and management system.
Furthermore, it calls for the all-round development of food resources to create a diverse food supply system that meets the diverse consumption and nutritional needs of the people, said the expert.
To build a beautiful and harmonious countryside for people to live and work in, the outline systematically deploys measures from multiple aspects including space, industry, governance, and allocation of public resources, and puts forward new requirements, Tu said.
"Past discussions on rural construction mainly focused on infrastructure development, public services, and improving living environments. This time, the outline highlights the importance of expanding county industries that benefit local people and enhancing rural governance. In addition to a healthy environment and convenient living conditions, rural areas also require robust industries. Only by fostering industries can they create employment opportunities, attract residents, and revitalize the countryside. To truly enrich the essence of a beautiful and harmonious countryside for people to live and work in, it is essential to focus on industrial development, strengthen rural governance, and refine urban and rural planning," said Tu.
Proactive measures to promote agriculture, rural areas, rural residents in 2026-2030: expert
