At a Glance

• The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan urged Prime Minister to thoroughly probe the Pirde operation.
• Faction spokesperson demanded strict legal accountability for security personnel found negligent during the raid.
• Leadership emphasized that counter-terrorism efforts must completely separate military targets from civilian populations.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) urged Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to launch a comprehensive investigation into recent Pirde incident, demanding that a clear distinction be maintained between counter-terrorism operations and civilian populations.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• The PUK Spokesperson stated, “We, in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, are closely and with deep concern monitoring the unfortunate incident in our beloved city of Kirkuk, in which two Kurdish youths were unfortunately martyred yesterday in Pirde.”
• “We call upon the Honorable Prime Minister of Iraq, Ali Zaidi, to direct the newly formed investigative committee,” the statement noted.

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PUK Spokesperson Karwan Gaznay stated on Tuesday that for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, “Kirkuk is a city of peaceful coexistence among all communities.”

Gaznay stated that in the past, the PUK played "a leading and effective role" in confronting terrorism, backed by the support of the Coalition forces and full coordination with the Iraqi forces.

“Today, we maintain our full readiness to defend Kirkuk, the entire territory of the Kurdistan Region, and Iraq; however, a distinction must be maintained between terrorism and civilian populations,” the statement noted.

Gaznay emphasized that in the past, the PUK played "a leading and effective role" in confronting terrorism, backed by the support of Coalition forces and full coordination with Iraqi forces.

The PUK urged al-Zaidi to order the new investigative committee “to conduct a highly serious investigation into the incident, ensuring that those responsible for negligence face legal accountability.”

FYI

The fatal security operation in Pirde occurred on Sunday evening, when the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) launched an uncoordinated raid targeting an alleged ISIS sleeper cell in a central market area, which immediately escalated into a heavy urban firefight.

During the operation, federal forces engaged in heavy gunfire near a local market and food warehouse, prompting federal media outlets to initially declare that two explosive-belt-wearing ISIS insurgents had been successfully eliminated.

However, subsequent investigations confirmed that two local Kurdish teenagers, Murad Zana, 14, and Muhammed Hemin, 15, were caught in the crossfire.

Zana was struck in the head and died instantly on Sunday, while Hemin’s body was recovered at the Kirkuk Forensic Medicine Department two days later.

The operation has since sparked widespread local outrage after findings revealed that Hemin had been mistakenly cataloged as a deceased insurgent.

Kirkuk’s First Deputy Governor Rebwar Taha confirmed to Channel8 that a special investigative committee has been established by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office.

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