Analysts on Friday were warning of the possible breakup of Iraq into Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish enclaves following the dramatic retreat of the national army from most of the north of the country in the face of an offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the seizure by Kurdish forces of the city of Kirkuk. ISIL forces posted a video on Thursday showing the destruction of border markings between Iraq and Syria in territory they control, with a spokesman declaring it to signify “the end of the Sykes-Pikot Agreement” which set the borders of the modern Middle East following WWI. ISIL has taken control of all of the northern province of Nineveh, home to much of Iraq’s ancient Christian population, and large portions of neighboring regions. Meanwhile, Western leaders have contemplated air strikes on ISIL positions to aid the Baghdad regime. Read More
