Washington (AFP) - The Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum has taken focus away from the war against the Islamic State group, the spokesman for the US-led coalition against the jihadists said on Thursday.
"There has been an effect on the overall mission to defeat (IS) in Iraq as a result of the referendum," Colonel Ryan Dillon told journalists.
"The focus, which used to be like a laser beam on (IS), is now not 100 percent there," Dillon said.
There is "a lot of posturing and a lot of things that have been said about what, you know, could or may happen," but current military operations have not been affected, he said.
Following the referendum, Baghdad demanded control of Kurdistan's airports and border crossings and said it will impose a flight ban on the region starting Friday.
"Right now, there's absolutely no effect on current military operations out of Arbil using the airport," Dillon said, referring to the Kurdish regional capital's airport.
Turkey, Iran and Syria -- neighboring countries that also have substantial Kurdish populations -- have like Baghdad come out against Kurdish independence, adding a regional dimension to the dispute.