What Happened in the PUK–Lahur Clashes in Sulaimani?

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A violent, pre-dawn military operation in Sulaimani that concluded with the arrest of former Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) co-leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi has left a trail of bloodshed and political turmoil, with official casualty figures now being directly challenged by claims of a much higher death toll among Sheikh Jangi’s loyalists.

While health officials have confirmed that three members of the PUK forces were killed and 19 others wounded, a source has told Kurdistan24 that the true number of victims from the opposing side may be ten times higher, a revelation that deepens the controversy surrounding a unilateral party action that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has confirmed it was not informed of in advance.

The dramatic events, which have been dubbed the "Lalezar Hotel Clash," have not only drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked concern from international powers but have also exposed a critical disconnect between partisan military decisions and the authority of the regional government.

In a broadcast, Kurdistan24’s news anchor Kovan Ezzat explained the discrepancy in casualty reporting.

"A source who did not wish to be named told Kurdistan24 that the statistics published regarding the number of dead and wounded in the Lalezar battle are not correct, because at least 30 to 40 people from the ranks of the 'Dupshk' (Scorpion) force, which is affiliated with Lahur Sheikh Jangi, were victims in those incidents," Ezzat stated.

This unconfirmed but significant claim casts a dark shadow over the official narrative and suggests the four-hour battle was far deadlier than has been publicly acknowledged.

The confrontation, which transformed the Sarchnar neighborhood of Sulaimani into a conflict zone, was the violent culmination of a long-simmering power struggle within the PUK.

The operation was officially predicated on a judicial order, with the Sulaimani Court confirming an arrest warrant had been issued for Lahur Sheikh Jangi and several associates under Article 56 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code, which addresses criminal agreements and acts harming public security.

Following the warrant’s issuance on Thursday evening, a large contingent of PUK forces, equipped with tanks and armored vehicles, mobilized after midnight and advanced on the Lalezar Hotel, which served as the main headquarters for Sheikh Jangi and his newly formed People’s Front party.

The tense standoff erupted into open conflict shortly after dawn, with reports from the scene indicating the use of heavy weapons, including Doshkas and rockets, in the assault on the hotel. The scope of the conflict widened when the headquarters of the PUK's Force 70 Command was reportedly attacked by a bomb-laden drone.

In the immediate aftermath, the Office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region issued a pointed statement.

The statement declared that the deadly clashes were "carried out by the forces of the PUK" and identified the conflict as a problem between the PUK and the People’s Front. Critically, 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."

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 communication read, concluding with a firm declaration: "Now, the law must replace partisan decisions and violence, and conflict and unrest must no longer endanger the stability of the Kurdistan Region."

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani himself had earlier issued a direct call for restraint as the violence escalated, warning that "these tensions and clashes occurring in Sulaimani target the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region." He emphasized that any existing dispute must be resolved through legal channels and not through violence, reaffirming his government’s commitment to cooperate to defuse the crisis.

While the operation achieved its stated goal of arresting Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother, Polad, the methods employed have drawn severe criticism.

The Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region sharply condemned the operation as an inappropriate "military display" that sowed fear among the public. The rights body lamented that "a fierce confrontation and a four-hour battle took place," creating "great unrest in the city of Sulaimani."

While supporting the implementation of court decisions, the commission unequivocally rejected the manner in which the arrests were conducted, pointing out a critical procedural flaw: "the implementing force for the arrest warrant is the police, not counter-terrorism forces and other forces."

The commission’s statement deplored the use of "tanks, Doshkas, and heavy weapons" and raised further concerns about the post-arrest portrayal of the detainees in media as "captives," underscoring the legal principle that "the accused is innocent until the crime is decided and proven against them by the court."

The fallout from the operation has been swift and decisive. In the hours following the arrests, PUK forces moved to seize assets affiliated with Sheikh Jangi. A large force was deployed to the Darwaza City residential project in Sulaimani, where they stormed the headquarters of Zoom TV.

According to reports, the channel’s offices had already been evacuated, but the force broke down the door and entered the premises. The Newroz Football Club, also affiliated with Sheikh Jangi, was similarly brought under the control of the PUK, which has indicated its intention to manage the club itself.

Speaking to Kurdistan24’s Kovan Ezzat, Shaduman Mala Hassan, a member of Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s People’s Front party, described these actions in stark terms. "Well, what fate! Those are now spoils... As far as they're concerned, these are the spoils of war," Mala Hassan said when asked about the future of the television channel and the football club.

When pressed on whether his party would seek legal recourse through the courts in Sulaimani, he expressed a profound lack of faith in the judicial system. "By God, the head of the PUK himself says he doesn't believe in the courts of Kurdistan. So why should we have any faith? All the judges bow down before him," he stated. "What you're suggesting is like a lamb going to the butcher to file a complaint."

Despite these setbacks, Mala Hassan affirmed that "the political party will continue."

The events have drawn significant international attention, with the U.S. State Department and the United States Mission to Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and neighboring Türkiye all issuing statements urging restraint and expressing concern over the violence.

Domestically, the Kurdistan Region Presidency also called for the rule of law to be upheld and for disputes to be resolved through non-violent means.

Following the arrests, official casualty figures were confirmed by Dr. Hirsh Saeed, Deputy Director General of Health in Sulaimani, who told Kurdistan24 that three members of the PUK forces had been killed and 19 others injured. He stated that all the injured were in stable condition and that no civilians were among the casualties.

The Sulaimani Court spokesperson, Salah Hassan, explained that while the initial charges were under Article 56, the investigation will now also proceed under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code due to the deaths and injuries that resulted from the confrontation.

The status of the Sheikh Jangi brothers remains a central question. Aras Sheikh Jangi, brother to both Lahur and Polad, was reported to be following up on their condition. Before the raid, he had dismissed the arrest warrant as being "far from the truth."

The violent events mark the most dramatic escalation in the power struggle that began in July 2021, when Bafel Talabani moved to consolidate control over the PUK, ultimately leading to the formal expulsion of his cousin, Lahur Sheikh Jangi, in November of that year.

Since then, Sheikh Jangi founded the People’s Front, positioning himself as a political rival, a rivalry that has now erupted into open warfare on the streets of Sulaimani.