PUK Forces Seize Lalezar Hotel, Arrest Lahur Jangi After Night of Clashes in Sulaimani

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) media outlets announced on Friday morning that an intense, hours-long security operation in Sulaimani has concluded with the Lalezar Hotel being brought under control and the subsequent arrest of Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother, Polad. The resolution came after armed men affiliated with Lahur Sheikh Jangi, who were positioned at the hotel, surrendered to PUK forces, ending a night of heavy gunfire and tension that had gripped the city.

The dramatic culmination followed a night of significant military buildup and violent clashes that began Thursday evening, transforming parts of Sulaimani, particularly the Sarchnar neighborhood, into a conflict zone. The operation was set in motion by a judicial order, which escalated into a full-scale assault involving heavy weaponry and resulted in widespread fear among local residents.

The legal groundwork for the night's events was laid hours earlier, as judicial and police authorities in Sulaimani confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant for Lahur Sheikh Jangi and "several other suspects." In a statement released on Friday and carried by media outlets close to the PUK, Brigadier General Aram Mohammed Salih, the Director of Sulaimani Provincial Police, affirmed that the warrant was issued by the Sulaimani Provincial Asayish (Security) Directorate. He specified that the order was based on Article 56 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.

Brigadier General Salih stated that the warrant had been distributed to all security forces and members of the judicial police, emphasizing that the order was binding and that those named must be arrested. He added that the Sulaimani Police Directorate had made all necessary preparations to execute the judicial command.

This was corroborated by Judge Salah Hassan, the Deputy President of the Sulaimani Court and the court's official spokesperson.

Speaking to Kurdistan24 and media close to the PUK, Judge Hassan confirmed that the Sulaimani Asayish Court had issued the decision to arrest Lahur Sheikh Jangi and the other suspects under the same legal provision. He further clarified that Article 56 pertains to the existence of a criminal agreement and coordination, as well as any other act deemed to harm public security and stability, providing the official justification for the significant security operation that was to follow.

As the legal basis for the action became public, a major mobilization of PUK forces began under the cover of darkness.

Kurdistan24 correspondent in Sulaimani, Aram Bakhtiar, reported that after midnight, a large PUK force, equipped with tanks and armored vehicles, had deployed within the city. This contingent was observed moving towards the Lalezar Hotel in the Sarchnar neighborhood, which served as the main headquarters for Lahur Sheikh Jangi. Bakhtiar noted that the streets and markets of Sulaimani were deserted, which cleared the path for the security forces to advance. He also reported that electricity in the Lalezar area and its surroundings had been cut off, though it was not immediately clear who was responsible for the outage or why.

At this critical juncture, as forces converged on his headquarters, Lahur Sheikh Jangi released what he described as his last message in a video published from the rooftop of the Lalezar Hotel.

In the message, he issued strong criticism against the PUK, accusing the party of being "corrupt and treacherous." He asked for forgiveness from the people of Sulaimani and stated that he had remained in Kurdistan for the sake of its people and his city. He asserted that following the events of July 8, he had opportunities to live comfortably in Europe but chose to stay. Lahur Sheikh Jangi indicated that he was not prepared to submit to any force or party he described as "tyrannical, corrupt, treacherous, unmanly, and disloyal to the land and homeland."

Shortly after dawn on Friday, the tense standoff erupted into open conflict. The attack by PUK forces on the Lalezar Hotel began, with the sound of heavy gunfire echoing through the Sarchnar neighborhood.

Kurdistan24 correspondent Hawzhin Jamal reported from Sulaimani that heavy weapons were being used in the confrontation. According to Jamal, PUK forces had issued warnings to residents in houses surrounding the hotel, asking them to evacuate their homes to avoid being harmed in the crossfire.

The situation deteriorated rapidly, with reports indicating that rockets were being fired at the Lalezar Hotel. The general security situation in Sulaimani was described as unstable, with fires breaking out in several locations. Jamal also noted that there were unconfirmed reports of dead and wounded on both sides of the conflict.

Amid the escalating violence, Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir issued a public message addressing the clashes. "Conflict and confrontation do not solve any problem; they only complicate problems and delay solutions," the Governor stated on Friday morning.

He expressed regret over the turn of events, saying, "In the past and present, we have continuously tried to prevent the situation from reaching this adverse and undesirable state." Governor Abubakir emphasized that the power of logic, mutual understanding, and the rule of law should be the basis for resolving any dispute. "With deep regret," he added, "the peaceful proposals, dialogues, and mechanisms received minimal support." He concluded by calling on all sides to cooperate to end the undesirable situation and any confrontation that puts public peace, security, and stability at risk.

Shortly after violent clashes erupted in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday urged for calm and restraint from all parties. Prime Minister Barzani cautioned that the turmoil represents a serious threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. He urged political parties to shoulder their responsibilities, end hostilities immediately, and avoid making the region’s youth casualties of internal disputes.

“Any tensions and disagreements must be resolved through legal means, not through violence,” PM Barzani said, reaffirming his government’s commitment to cooperate with all sides to defuse the crisis and prevent further bloodshed.

The conflict, which had been ongoing for three hours, was not confined to the immediate vicinity of the Lalezar Hotel. The scope of the confrontation appeared to widen when, according to a Kurdistan24 correspondent, the headquarters of the PUK's Force 70 Command was attacked with a bomb-laden drone.

It was also reported that another drone had previously crashed in the Dabashan area, near the residence of Bafel Talabani. Throughout this period, clashes between PUK forces and Lahur Sheikh Jangi's forces continued with various types of light and heavy weapons. Dense smoke was seen covering the sky over the Sarchnar neighborhood and the Lalezar Hotel as the battle raged.

The heavy deployment of PUK forces, which began on Thursday at 8 p.m., had already created a tense atmosphere, but the launch of the attack on Lahur Sheikh Jangi's headquarters spread a great deal of fear and anxiety among the residents of Sulaimani. This was particularly true for those living in the Sarchnar neighborhood, many of whom were trapped inside their homes, unable to flee the danger unfolding around them.

Finally, after a night of tension and hours of heavy fighting, PUK media outlets began announcing the conclusion of the operation on Friday morning. The reports declared that the gunfire in Sulaimani had ended and that the Lalezar Hotel had been brought fully under PUK control. The media outlets confirmed that Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad were arrested. This came after the armed men affiliated with them at the hotel surrendered to the PUK forces.

While the main confrontation has ended, the city remains on high alert. No official information has yet been released regarding the number of casualties resulting from the battle. The streets of Sulaimani remain largely deserted, while the Sarchnar area is filled with checkpoints and a heavy presence of PUK forces, securing the location of the night's decisive confrontation.

The situation in Sulaimani remains tense as rival groups continue to mobilize, raising fears of further instability.

Lahur Sheikh Jangi previously served as co-president of the PUK alongside his cousin Bafel Talabani. However, internal power struggles within the party escalated in July 2021, when Bafel ordered the closure of a media outlet linked to Lahur and dismissed several key commanders in both the counter-terrorism and intelligence agencies who were seen as his allies. Shortly after, Bafel declared himself the sole leader of the PUK.

In November of the same year, Lahur was formally expelled from the party, along with several of his supporters, thereby consolidating Bafel’s control over both the party and its financial assets.

Since then, Lahur Sheikh Jangi has pursued his own political path, founding the People’s Front, a new party officially licensed by the Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry on Jan. 17, 2024. The movement has attracted several former PUK members loyal to Lahur’s faction.