![Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Sistani opposes secession of Kurdish region](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/economy-society/001222145454.jpg)
![Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Sistani opposes secession of Kurdish region](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/economy-society/001222145454.jpg)
![Last Flight Departs as Iraq Imposes Ban for Kurdish Independence Vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Last Flight Departs as Iraq Imposes Ban for Kurdish Independence Vote
2017-09-29T16:27:00.000000Z![Iraq closes Kurdistan airports in response to independence vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/economy-society/Iraq-closes-Kurdistan-airports-in-response-to-independence-vote.jpg)
Iraq closes Kurdistan airports in response to independence vote
2017-09-28T21:24:00.000000Z![Iraq's Kurds vote 'yes' to independent state in referendum: official results](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Iraq's Kurds vote 'yes' to independent state in referendum: official results
2017-09-27T18:44:00.000000Z![Iraq gives Kurdistan till Friday to hand over control of airports to avoid embargo](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Iraq gives Kurdistan till Friday to hand over control of airports to avoid embargo
2017-09-26T19:18:00.000000Z![Turkey threatens blockade after Iraqi Kurdish independence vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Turkey threatens blockade after Iraqi Kurdish independence vote
2017-09-26T19:14:00.000000Z![Tensions rise as Iraq Kurds defy Baghdad in independence vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Tensions rise as Iraq Kurds defy Baghdad in independence vote
2017-09-25T21:29:00.000000Z![Iraqi Kurds vote in historic independence referendum, shrugging off threats](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/news/2017-09-25T051909Z_1_LYNXNPED8O08O_RTROPTP_2_MIDEAST-CRISIS-KURDS-REFERENDUM.jpg)
Iraqi Kurds vote in historic independence referendum, shrugging off threats
2017-09-25T08:24:00.000000Z![Iraq’s Kurds to vote on independence amid fears of unrest](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Iraq’s Kurds to vote on independence amid fears of unrest
2017-09-24T21:03:00.000000Z![Baghdad Orders Kurdistan Region to Hand Over Borders, Ports](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/Archive.jpg)
Baghdad Orders Kurdistan Region to Hand Over Borders, Ports
2017-09-24T21:01:00.000000Z![Iraq Kurd head resists pressure to scrap independence vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/economy-society/b57c4647ab5f3a08493ce0fd7facc311fbbc4fb5.jpg)
Iraq Kurd head resists pressure to scrap independence vote
2017-09-22T19:40:00.000000Z![Iraq's top court suspends Kurdish region's independence vote](https://media.shafaq.com/media/archive/files/English/news/59bfb715f1ae7.image.jpg)