At a Glance:

• One Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) member, Ali Bahjat Hamid, was killed and another, Junaid Ismat Bahjat, was wounded in a drive-by shooting in Pirde (Altun Kupri).
• Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on a PMF Brigade 16 (Turkmen Brigade) position at approximately 2:00 AM on September 3.
• Joint elements from the Iraqi Army, Federal Police, and PMF cordoned off the sector, initiating a search-and-sweep operation to locate the fled perpetrators.
• The attack highlights persistent security gaps and asymmetric sleeper cell activity in disputed areas along the Kirkuk–Erbil border.

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A Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fighter was killed and another wounded during an early morning drive-by attack on a military post in the town of Pirde (Altun Kupri), located in northern Kirkuk Governorate. Executed at approximately 02:00 on September 3 by two gunmen operating on a motorcycle, the assault has triggered a wide-scale security sweep across the Dibis district as joint Iraqi forces attempt to track down the assailants.

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Key Statements and Focus Area:

• Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Brigade 16 Press Office:
  "Operational units from Brigade 16 suffered an armed attack early Thursday morning in Altun Kupri, resulting in the martyrdom of fighter Ali Bahjat Hamid and the injury of Junaid Ismat Bahjat. Relevant security authorities have launched an immediate investigation to trace the attackers."

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Incident Summary and Operational Parameters

Incident Parameter	Operational Details
Location / Sector	Pirde (Altun Kupri), Dibis District, Northwest Kirkuk
Date & Time	Thursday, September 3, 2026 (~02:00 AM)
Unit Targeted	PMF Brigade 16 (Turkmen Power / Badr Organization Affiliated)
Victims	1 KIA: Ali Bahjat Hamid | 1 WIA: Junaid Ismat Bahjat
Tactics Employed	Small-arms drive-by attack utilizing a motorcycle
Attribution Status	Unclaimed; suspected ISIS sleeper cell execution

Security Operations and Search Sweeps

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Iraqi Army troops, Federal Police contingents, and local PMF units cordoned off all entry and exit corridors surrounding the multi-ethnic town of Prde. Security forces established temporary checkpoints along the primary Kirkuk–Erbil highway, conducting targeted search operations across nearby agricultural areas to prevent the gunmen from escaping deeper into rural hideouts.

Disputed Territory Security Gaps and Joint Response

Prde and the broader Dibis sector sit within a complex security zone characterized by terrain ruggedness and historical operational gaps between federal Iraqi forces and Kurdish regional defenses. Local officials note that ISIS remnants frequently exploit these boundaries to execute low-level hit-and-run tactics, abductions, and targeted assassinations. To contain the threat, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and Kurdistan Commando Forces routinely execute joint clearance operations targeting hidden tunnel networks and supply caches across the Kirkuk borderland.

FYI

While no group has formally claimed responsibility, the attack fits the established operational pattern of local ISIS sleeper cells executing low-cost, mobile ambushes against isolated checkpoints. The incident underscores the fragility of security along the disputed Kirkuk border corridors, highlighting the continuous operational requirement for joint intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols between Baghdad and Erbil.

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