Iraqi militants release 32 Turkish truck drivers

World Today

A group of Turkish truck drivers who were kidnapped by extremist militants in northern Iraq were released on Thursday.

The 32 Turkish truck drivers were captured when Sunni militants led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took over the city of Mosul.

The drivers were taken by bus to Irbil airport and boarded a plane to be flown to Turkey. Meanwhile, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani told in an interview that a referendum to decide on independence for the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq “is a question of months”, leading to speculations that Iraq if finally heading for a split.

CCTV’s Tony Cheng has this report with all the latest developments in Iraq.

Iraqi Militants release 32 Turkish truck drivers

In Iraq, it could be the beginnings of a formal split within the country. On the battle front, more skirmishes along Iraq's borders-even allegations of soldier desertion amid heavy fighting with Sunni militants.Those militants did release 32 Turkish truck drivers captured in northwestern Iraq last month. CCTV's Tony Cheng has more on all of these developments from Erbil.

CCTV’s Mike Walter interviews Jason Stanford, a partner with the Truman National Security Project, to talk about the political ramifications of a possibly independent Kurdistan.

Jason Stanford on the possible ramifications of independent Kurdistan

CCTV's Mike Walter interviews Jason Stanford, a partner with the Truman National Security Project, to talk about the political ramifications of a possibly independent Kurdistan.