ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An influential Shiite leader warned that if the Kurdistan Region insists on holding the independence referendum, war will possibly be ignited. To prevent such an end, “dialogue” has to be the only option.

“We have to all ramp up our efforts to prevent the referendum and independence from happening,” Hadi al-Amiri, the secretary general of the Badr Organization, an influential military wing within the multi-party Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary.

“We must never reach the point of civil war,” he urged, adding that if that happens, “civil war cannot be stopped by anyone and at the same time all the involved parties will be losers. There will be no winner.”

He added “civil war” ignites when “complicated matters become out of control.”

“Unfortunately, when the civil war breaks out, blood will be shed,” he warned.

“The last solution to resolve this problem with the Kurdistan Region is only dialogue and this kind of solution cannot be deterred. This problem must only be resolved in a peaceful way,” Amiri added, speaking in Najaf.

In a wide-ranging interview with Rudaw earlier this month, Amiri criticized the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming independence referendum while praising the past “joint struggle” between Kurds and Shiite when fighting the former Baathist regime. 

As the referendum date of September 25 nears, tensions have risen and the majority within Baghdad and the regional and international communities oppose the vote.