Latest news with #KurdistanRegionSecurityCouncil
Asharq Al-Awsat
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Kurdistan Region Blames ‘Terrorist Group' for Peshmerga Attack
Five members of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces were wounded in two separate drone attacks targeting military positions in northern Iraq's Duhok province, the Kurdistan Region Security Council said on Tuesday. The council said the strikes occurred on Monday and Tuesday in the town of Amadiya, where surveillance posts were being set up. The attacks were carried out using drones, it added. Kurdish intelligence sources suspect a splinter faction of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was behind the strikes, suggesting the group aimed to disrupt ongoing peace efforts in both Türkiye and Syria. 'These are terrorist attacks,' the Security Council said in a statement, vowing to take 'all necessary measures' against groups that threaten the region's security and stability. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state and maintains bases in northern Iraq. The Kurdistan Region Security Council said Tuesday that the recent drone attacks on Peshmerga forces may have been intended to derail ongoing peace efforts among Kurdish groups across the region, as well as political developments within the Kurdistan Regional Government. The council suggested the twin strikes in Duhok province were connected to peace negotiations between Türkiye and the PKK, as well as intra-Kurdish talks in northeast Syria, where Kurdish factions are seeking unity under what is known as the 'Kurdish Unity Conference.' It also linked the attacks to the final stages of forming the Kurdistan Region's new government, warning that 'certain groups and factions are working to obstruct peace and stability in the region.' The comments came days after Syrian Kurdish factions held what was described as a 'historic conference' in the northeastern city of Qamishli, calling for a decentralized democratic state. The event brought together Kurdish delegations from Syria, Iraq, and Türkiye, and was attended by a US delegation. Kurdish expert Kifah Mahmoud has suggested that factions within the PKK were likely behind the recent drone attacks on Peshmerga positions in northern Iraq. Mahmoud told Asharq Al-Awsat that the attacks were linked to the ongoing peace initiatives in the region, both within Kurdish territories and at a broader geopolitical level. 'These developments are related to the peace processes, whether in the Kurdish regions or at the regional level,' Mahmoud said. 'We have positive negotiations between Türkiye and the PKK, as well as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) moving toward a peaceful stance with Türkiye. Most importantly, there's a positive trajectory in relations between Baghdad and Erbil, along with ongoing regional negotiations between Washington and Tehran.' Mahmoud believes that these efforts are not well-received by more hardline factions within the PKK. He pointed out that the PKK has long been divided into parallel wings operating under different names in various active regions, with some factions opposed to peace initiatives in Kurdish territories. While some Kurdish officials have speculated that Türkiye may be indirectly involved in the attacks, Mahmoud dismissed this theory, instead attributing responsibility to the more radical PKK factions based in areas such as the Qandil Mountains and Sinjar, as well as near Amadiya. He also rejected suggestions that the strikes were aimed at disrupting the formation of the Kurdistan Region's new government, asserting that the main objective was to undermine the ongoing peace processes within Kurdish areas.
Shafaq News
10-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Syrian suspect confesses to Akitu festival attack
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Kurdistan Region Security Council arrested a Syrian national in connection with the April 1 attack on the Akitu festival in Duhok province. The council identified the suspect as 22-year-old Louay Abdulrahim Ramadan, also known as Abu Juhaiman al-Baghuzzi, and confirmed that he has been referred to the judiciary as part of an ongoing formal investigation. No further details were provided regarding additional suspects. Arrested earlier this month in Duhok city, Ramadan admitted to executing the assault using a machete and knives during the annual celebration, driven by extremist ideology. Preliminary findings indicate that the attack was carried out under directives from ISIS, the statement added. The Akitu festival, an ancient Assyrian New Year celebration, draws large crowds annually in northern Iraq.
Shafaq News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Top ISIS figure killed: Kurdistan, Iraq clash over credit
Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) slammed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Friday for failing to credit their pivotal role in the killing of senior ISIS leader Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rafiei, also known as Abu Khadijah. The KRSC pointed out that Rafiei's death came after "several years of investigation and relying on information from the Kurdistan Region Security Council, in coordination with the coalition and later with Iraqi federal forces." The council made it clear, saying, 'Our forces were integral to this operation. Without our efforts, this significant achievement would not have been possible.' Earlier today, al-Sudani announced that Iraqi intelligence, with coalition support, had carried out the operation targeting Rafiei. In a post on X, al-Sudani labeled Rafiei 'one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world,' but gave no specifics on when or where the operation took place. He added, 'This operation is a key victory in the fight against terrorism.' The KRSC was quick to respond, expressing frustration over the lack of recognition. "This oversight could jeopardize future cooperation between regional and federal security forces," they said. "We have been essential in the fight against ISIS, and we expect our contributions to be acknowledged." Meanwhile, the Joint Operations Command provided new details about the remaining ISIS leadership in Iraq, highlighting the close coordination with the Asayish and the KRSC in hunting down the remnants of the terrorist group. During a joint press conference with intelligence and counterterrorism agencies, Lieutenant General Qais al-Mohamadi, commander of the Joint Operations Command, underscored the success of recent operations. "This year has seen extraordinary cooperation with our Kurdish counterparts. Their intelligence-sharing has been critical in dismantling ISIS in the region," he said. Al-Mohamadi also confirmed that the previous day's operation led to the elimination of Abdullah Maki, also known as Abu Khadijah, a senior figure in ISIS. "Abu Khadijah is one of the most wanted and dangerous terrorist leaders," he stated, adding that his death is a major blow to the group's operations in both Iraq and Syria. The commander explained that while previous operations last year had taken out several key terrorist figures, Abu Khadijah had evaded capture until now. "He slipped through our grasp before, but our intelligence team finally tracked down his associates in Kirkuk, leading to this successful strike," al-Mohamadi said. This operation highlights the ongoing collaboration between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the battle against ISIS, with both sides playing a crucial role in dismantling the terrorist group's remaining networks. As al-Mohamadi concluded, "We will continue our joint efforts to ensure ISIS is fully eradicated from Iraq."
Rudaw Net
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish security council slams Sudani for omitting credit in anti-ISIS op
Also in Iraq Syrian FM visits Baghdad Iraqi PM announces killing of senior ISIS leader 'Turning into a desert': A Dhi Qar river is drying up UNAMI expresses concern over attacks on Syrian nationals in Iraq A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said on Friday that it played a key role in killing senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rafiei, and slammed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani for failing to credit them. Rafiei was killed "after several years of investigation and relying on information from the Kurdistan Region Security Council, in coordination with the coalition and later with Iraqi federal forces," the KRSC said. Sudani had announced earlier in the day that Iraqi intelligence, with the support of the United States-led global coalition against ISIS, carried out an operation targeting Rafiei, aka Abu Khadija. He did not reveal where and when the operation took place. The KRSC criticized Sudani for failing to credit the Kurdish forces. "This oversight is not a good indication for the future of cooperation between the regional and federal institutions," the KRSC warned. "The institutions affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Security Council have played an influential role in confronting the threat of terrorists in this region and will continue to effectively perform this duty. It would be better for the federal government to create a more favorable environment for cooperation and coordination for the sake of maintaining peace and stability throughout Iraq," it added. Erbil and Baghdad have coordinated in many anti-ISIS operations in the past. Sudani said that Rafiei was "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world." The United States in 2023 named Rafiei a Specially Designated Global Terrorist as an ISIS leader. ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in northern and central Iraq in 2014. Their so-called caliphate was brought to an end in 2017, but the group continues to pose a security threat particularly in the disputed territories that stretch across several provinces including Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh, as well as across the border in Syria.
