We are once again likely to see death squads, Paramilitaries, CIA-linked jihadists,
and even US support for genocidal rulers who will serve as local proxies intended to roll back Russian and Chinese influence.
Kurdish forces had previously vowed to defend Kirkuk, and
for three days they were locked in an armed standoff with Iraqi government troops and allied Iranian-backed Paramilitaries known as Popular Mobilisation Forces(PMF) on the outskirts of the city.