Sirwan Barzani calls for historic recognition of Kurdish forces' 2014 victory over ISIS near Erbil. Warns of persistent ...

President Masoud Barzani congratulates the Kurdistan Social Democratic Party on its 49th anniversary, commending the ...

Here is a look at the life of Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq. Personal Birth date: August 16, 1946 Birth place: Mahabad, Kurdistan, Iran Birth name: Massoud Barzani ...

Urumiyeh, IRNA – Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, has emphasized the importance of strengthening ...

War in Iraq: Masoud Barzani, Ex-Kurdish Leader, Says U.S. Knew in Advance About Iraqi Assault on Kirkuk Published Nov 07, 2017 at 2:49 PM EST Updated Nov 12, 2017 at 5:07 PM EST By Adla Massoud ...

Massoud Barzani will step down as president of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region as the political backlash to September’s Kurdish independence referendum continues.

Barzani did not waste any time in pushing for complete autonomy for the Kurds in Iraq. In 2005, a referendum was held on independence with 98.8 percent of the population voting in favor.

Corruption and sycophancy hobbled the Iraqi Kurdish militia. His forces could not vocalize faults, as Barzani had appointed his own sons as commanders. To criticize them was to commit career suicide.

Masoud Barzani can now bequeath this legacy upon his own son, Masrour, who may complete the project of creating the Kurdish state should the regional balance of forces tilt in the Kurds’ favor.

Since Iraq's Kurdish region voted to secede last month, Kurds have reeled from territorial losses. Now, their president and longtime leader, Masoud Barzani, has declared he'll step down Wednesday.

Barzani is named the head of the northwestern region as head of the KDP. A parallel government is established in the east under the PUK. 1994-1998 - Barzani leads a war against the PUK.