A responsible source: The Kurdistan Region is smuggling oil to Turkey and from there to Syria and Afghanistan, under Kurdish protection.

A responsible source in the province of Sulaymaniyah revealed today, Sunday, that the smuggling operations of oil and oil derivatives from the Kurdistan region to Turkey continue amid the silence of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi, indicating that these operations have become organized and official, protected by security forces affiliated with the region.

The source stated in a statement seen by the Video News Agency, "The oil smuggling networks belonging to the government of Masoud Barzani continue to smuggle crude oil to Turkey officially and under the protection of the region's border guards. The smuggling operations occur in an organized manner through 21 unofficial crossings, and the smuggling starts after midnight."

He added that "all regulatory committees sent by the federal government confirm the existence of oil smuggling operations outside the borders, yet Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi has not made any decision to pursue those involved in the smuggling operations as they are managed by the Barzani family."

He pointed out that "the smuggling operations of oil derivatives to Turkey and then to Syria and Afghanistan are still ongoing under the supervision of the Peshmerga and the Kurdish Asayish, and the revenues from the smuggled oil are shared between the two parties, the Democratic Party and the Kurdistan Alliance."