The Kurdish Autonomous Region is an area in northern Iraq that has a degree of self-governance. Established after the Gulf War in the 1990s, it is primarily inhabited by the Kurdish people, who have their own distinct language and culture. The region includes the provinces of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaymaniyah. This autonomous region has its own government, known as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which manages local affairs, including education and health. The KRG has its own security forces, called the Peshmerga, which play a crucial role in maintaining stability in the area.