Hogir Fathi, a 24-year-old fighter in the peshmerga forces of autonomous Kurdistan, was eagerly anticipating a visit home to his village when he was killed by a bomb on the frontline against Islamist militants. His father, Mehdi, also a peshmerga fighter, expressed pride in his son's sacrifice for an independent Kurdistan. The dream of an independent Kurdish state, long denied after World War One, seems closer as internal strife in Iraq raises the possibility of partition. The Kurds of Iraq have already seized the opportunity to expand their territory and have even called for a referendum on secession, despite potential economic and external pressures hindering their progress. Kurdistan Vice President Kosrat Rasul Ali, a veteran peshmerga commander, stated that all Kurdish people support independence, but it is important for leadership to carefully consider the timing. He emphasized that if the political climate is not favorable, it may be necessary to wait for years to avoid any misadventures. Several leaders echoed this caution, suggesting that the mere threat of secession has benefited the Kurds in negotiations with Shi'ites and Sunnis in post-Saddam politics. Despite facing hostility from Turkey and potential challenges from Iran, Iraqi Kurds, who predominantly identify as Sunni but prioritize their language and culture, already have significant autonomy, including their own armed forces and oil exports which has irked Baghdad. Turkey, once opposed to Kurdish independence due to its own Kurdish conflict, may now be more accepting, while Iran, supporting Shia parties in Baghdad, views Kurdish secession as a ploy to claim an unfair share of Iraq's resources. The competing interests of Iran and Turkey within Iraqi Kurdistan have led to tensions within Kurdish politics, with the KDP aligning more with Turkey and the PUK closer to Iran, each controlling separate territories and peshmerga units. A senior figure in the PUK warned that failure to maintain a balanced relationship between Iran and Turkey could have damaging consequences. The PUK, which is led by Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Kurdistan Vice President Rasul, accused the KDP of collaborating with Turkey in a Sunni conspiracy to support the Islamic State. The United States is pressuring the Kurds to remain part of a unified Iraq, but Kurdish leaders may use this leverage to negotiate concessions, such as the ability to export oil independently. Despite financial challenges and the desire for independence, many Kurds are willing to work towards unity with Iraq to secure a better future. A practical Kurdish leadership may wait and observe how Iraq's other factions and their international supporters handle the Islamist attack before making any decisions. According to a Western diplomat familiar with Iraqi politics, the Kurds are currently in a favorable position, and pursuing independence could lead to more drawbacks than benefits.