Syrian refugees entering Kurdistan by the thousands

FEYSHKHABOUR - Thousands of refugees are making their way on a new pontoon bridge across the Tigris River from Syria to Iraqi Kurdistan after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reopened the border.

They flee a two and a half year long, multi-sided civil war in Syria that is unlikely to end soon and, in recent months has seen violent Sunni fundamentalist groups, particularly Jabhat al-Nusra, targeting Kurdish militias. Several refugees said the fighting against Jabhat al-Nusra had intensified in the last few weeks, and reports have surfaced of atrocities committed against Kurdish civilians.