Kerry: IS group committing genocide in Iraq, Syria

Islamic Extremism

A young girl holds a child in front of a ruined house in Cizre, Turkey, Wednesday, March 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Ayse Wieting)

The Obama administration on Thursday formally concluded the Islamic State group is committing genocide against Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria, a declaration long sought by Congress and human rights organizations but likely to change little in the conflict against the extremists.

Meanwhile at the U.N.-brokered peace talks on Syria, a major move was made Thursday by the main Syrian Kurdish group: Members declared a federal region in the north. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country can make a powerful Syrian comeback.

The AP reports that the U.S. is opposed to any unilateral declarations of autonomous federal zones in Syria but would not be against federalism if the Syrian people chose it as part of a negotiated political settlement.

CCTV’s Richard Bestic has more from Geneva about what hurdles are in the way of an agreement.


Reaction to bombing in Ankara, Kurd’s new federal state

CCTV’s Natalie Carney reports from Istanbul.


Brooking’s Michael O’Hanlon on the genocide of Syrian Kurds

For more on the genocide of minorities designation and it’s relevance, CCTV America’s Elaine Reyes was joined by Michael O’Hanlon, director of research for the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.


Military analyst Omar Lamrani on Yazidi genocide

CCTV America interviewed Omar Lamrani, a senior military analyst for Stratfor about Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks on the ISIL genocide designation.


Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this report.