Why Iraq is not in a Civil War

Kurds are an ethnic group.



Sunni and Shia are denominations of the Islamic faith.



According to the Political Dictionary, a "civil war" is a war between different factions, whether geographcal or political, within one state or nation.

Since none of the groups are "political" or in a geographical location unique to one nation, Iraq, this is not a civil war.

A more appropriate term is insurgency or even insurrection.