"The possibility of a full-scale conflict between the two sides is low as they will both lose the war and they will not gain anything," Dr. Higel, a researcher on the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera about the recent tensions between the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party and the PKK over the presence of the later, as a Turkey Kurdish party, in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

She added that if a war similar to the 1990s war between the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) takes place between the KDP and the PKK now, "it would be destructive for the Turkish opposition group [PKK] because it would increase Turkish influence through KDP support."

She further called on Baghdad to ease tensions through talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Turkey and the PKK.

Reporter's code: 50101