Calls for the establishment of an autonomous Sunni region have recently resurfaced in Iraq, reigniting longstanding grievances between major political actors. Leading this initiative is Sunni Arab politician Sheikh Thaer Al-Bayati, the secretary-general of the Council of Arab Tribes and the founder of the Iraqi Salvation Front.

Bayati initially proposed this plan in 2018, arguing that resolving the economic and political issues of Sunni governorates necessitates the creation of a federal region akin to the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. The envisioned Sunni region would encompass governorates north and west of Baghdad, including...