US worries about new conflict in Iraq

President Trump’s team is worried that a referendum to form a new state out of northern Iraq could lead to a conflict that could complicate U.S. alliances and partnerships in the region.

Iraqi Kurds, who dominate a semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq and have played a key role in the fight against the Islamic State, voted overwhelmingly for independence on Monday. That vote won support from some members of Congress, but Trump’s team opposed the referendum. And the State Department worries it could lead to a new conflict over the fate of the region.