Statement from Prime Minister’s Office Regarding Sulaimani Events
KRG’s Premier Office stated, "Now, the law must replace partisan decisions and violence, and conflict and unrest must no longer endanger the stability of the Kurdistan Region.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister's Office has declared that last night's deadly clashes in Sulaimani's Lalazar area were "carried out by the forces of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)," identifying the conflict as a problem between the PUK and the People's Front.
In a statement released on Friday, the Prime Minister's Office asserted that the Presidency of the Regional Government was unaware of the operation "until the final moments of the siege and attack."
The statement from the Prime Minister's Office expressed deep concern and sadness over the events, which resulted in casualties and injuries.
It noted that despite "significant efforts to prevent the conflict and confrontation from occurring" by the Prime Minister, the attack was ultimately carried out.
"We are very concerned and saddened by this event," the official communication read, adding, "Now, the law must replace partisan decisions and violence, and conflict and unrest must no longer endanger the stability of the Kurdistan Region."
The violent events unfolded Thursday night and into Friday morning, centering on the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaimani, which served as the main headquarters for Lahur Sheikh Jangi, the former PUK co-leader who now heads the People's Front party.
After several hours of heavy fighting between PUK forces and fighters loyal to Sheikh Jangi, both Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad were arrested.
The clashes left three people dead and 19 injured, all of whom were members of the PUK forces, according to Dr. Hirsh Saeed, Deputy Director General of Health in Sulaimani, who confirmed the numbers to Kurdistan24. He stated that all the injured were in stable condition and that no civilians were among the casualties.
The operation was predicated on a judicial order. The Sulaimani Court announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Lahur Sheikh Jangi and several others under Article 56 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code, which addresses criminal agreements and acts harming public security.
A court spokesperson, Salah Hassan, explained to Kurdistan24 that as a result of the violent confrontation and the resulting deaths and injuries, the investigation will now also proceed under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code. Hassan stressed that all defendants have the right to appeal and appoint legal representation.
The large-scale security operation, which reportedly involved tanks and armored vehicles, has drawn significant international concern and domestic criticism.
The United States Mission to Iraq issued a statement urging all parties to show restraint. "We oppose any violence that threatens public safety and stability," the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad posted on the social media platform X.
Similarly, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) voiced its concern, regretting the loss of life and injuries and urging that judicial processes be conducted fairly and impartially. Neighboring Türkiye also announced it was monitoring the developments with significant concern.
Domestically, the Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region sharply condemned the manner in which the arrests were conducted. The commission characterized the use of counter-terrorism forces and heavy weaponry as an inappropriate "military display" that sowed fear among the public.
The rights body noted a critical procedural flaw, stating that the implementing force for an arrest warrant should be the police, not counter-terrorism units, and it deplored the use of "tanks, Doshkas, and heavy weapons" in the operation.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency also issued a statement emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law and resolve all disputes through legal and non-violent means.
The events mark the most dramatic escalation in a long-running power struggle within the PUK, which saw Lahur Sheikh Jangi, a former co-president, formally expelled in November 2021 after his cousin, Bafel Talabani, consolidated control over the party. Sheikh Jangi subsequently founded the People's Front, positioning himself as a political rival.
