More Than 92% of Kurdish Voters Back Independence From Iraq

More than 92% of Kurdish voters supported independence from Iraq in a non-binding referendum, The Guardian reported Wednesday. Before the announcement of the results, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi sent troops into the disputed Kurdish areas. Tensions are expected to increase in the wake of the independence vote. The Iraqi government has since pledged to close Kurdish airspace on Friday evening and Turkey said it is considering imposing a trade ban and closing its border with Kurdistan.