Turkey, Iran and Iraq have agreed to consider counter-measures against Kurdish northern Iraq over a planned independence referendum, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani said on Friday that Iraq’s Kurds were ready “to pay any price for freedom”, rejecting international pressure to call off the referendum on independence planned for Monday in northern Iraq.

US presidential envoy to the coalition fighting insurgent group Islamic State said on Friday (September 23, 2017) that Kuwait would hold a conference on reconstruction in Iraq early next year.

An Iraqi Yazidi group backed by Turkish Kurds and Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitary clashed on Friday near the border with Syria, a local security official said.

Iraq launched an offensive on Thursday to dislodge Islamic State from Hawija, west of the oil city of Kirkuk and one of two areas of the country still under the control of the militants.

Bahrain expressed its confidence in the wisdom of the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masoud Barzani, not to rush to hold a referendum on the independence of the region, in order to avoid more risks on Iraq, particularly in the current circumstances and challenges facing the region and threatening its people.

Iraqi security forces and paramilitary units have launched a dawn assault against one of Daesh’s last bastions in the vast western province of Anbar bordering Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday that Kurdish plans to hold a referendum on independence was like "playing with fire", according to a local media website.

Iran warned on Sunday that independence for Iraqi Kurdistan would mean an end to all border and security arrangements with the regional government.

Iraqi vice president warned on Sunday that Baghdad would not tolerate the creation of “a second Israel” after the Jewish state became the only country to support a planned Kurdish independence referendum in northern Iraq.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi this week to discuss their concerns about an independence referendum in Iraq’s Kurdish region.

Iraq’s parliament voted on Thursday to remove the governor of Kirkuk from office following a request from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, according to several lawmakers who attended the vote.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi described the Kurdistan region’s planned referendum on independence as “unconstitutional” on Tuesday, hours after parliament voted against the regional plebiscite.

Bahrain Airport Company said it contacted Iraqi Airways to assist passengers whose flights were delayed, stressing on the need to fulfill their obligations to travelers by providing them with temporary accommodation in hotels near the airport.

Local Bahraini Akhbar Al-Khaleej newspaper said that hundreds of Bahrainis traveling on Iraqi Airways have been stranded for more than 48 hours at Bahrain International Airport due to a three-day delay.

Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the terrorist bombings that targeted several areas of the Republic of Iraq, resulting in the death and injury of scores of people. The Ministry affirmed the solidarity of Bahrain with Iraq in its fight against terrorism and its efforts to combat and eradicate all terrorist organizations.

Jordan will open its main border crossing with Iraq on Wednesday for the first time since 2015, now that Iraqi forces have gained control of the main highway to Baghdad from Islamic State militants, both governments said.

Iraqi forces battling to retake the small town of al-’Ayadiya where militants fleeing Tal Afar have entrenched themselves, saying on Tuesday the fighting is “multiple times worse” than the battle for Mosul’s old city.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered its congratulations to Iraq’s government and people on the liberation of Tal Afar from the grip of ISIS, highlighting the determination of the Iraqi government and armed forces led by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.

Iraqi forces have retaken almost all of Tal Afar, Islamic State’s stronghold in the country’s northwest, the Iraqi military said on Sunday.