At a Glance

• The civilian casualties in recent Pirde clashes triggered widespread protests and a blockade on the Kirkuk–Erbil highway.
• Protesters and lawmakers demanded a prime-minister-led inquiry, military accountability, and family compensation.
• Demonstrators peacefully cleared the highway this morning after formally delivering their demands.
• A high-level prime ministerial committee is investigating the operational failures while the counter-terrorism chief visits today.

The fatal shooting of two youths during an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) raid in Pirde has ignited widespread civil unrest, with demonstrators paralyzing the strategic Kirkuk–Erbil highway as the CTS head is expected to arrive in the sub-district today.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

• Lawmaker Mazin Gharib stated that the head of the Counter-Terrorism Service, along with two high-level committees, is arriving to provide compensation, restore the people's rights, and ensure "this unacceptable act is never repeated."
• Official authorities have announced the launch of an investigation into military negligence.

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Local demonstrators alongside parliamentary delegates have formally submitted their grievances during their overnight protest in Pirde.

The protesters expressed fierce condemnation over the execution of the tactical operation inside dense residential sectors.

Demands were directly routed to the Iraqi Prime Minister to spearhead an exhaustive inquiry and hold negligent military personnel legally accountable.

Furthermore, the victims' families are demanding immediate state compensation alongside a full restoration of their legal rights.

Following the submission of these terms, demonstrators peacefully dismantled their blockades and initiated a cleanup of local thoroughfares early this morning.

A high-level investigative committee from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office is slated to visit Kirkuk to assess operational failures.

Concurrently, the Kirkuk Operations Command has submitted a comprehensive report to senior command, while the head of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service plans to meet with the victims' families to offer formal apologies and coordinate compensation.

Speaking to the media at the demonstrations, Mazin Gharib, a Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament and a member of the Security and Defense Committee, stressed that they are actively engaging with the President, the Prime Minister, Justice Minister Khalid Shwani, and other lawmakers, adding that every single Kurdish official is aware because “this is not a minor incident that can be easily brushed aside.”

FYI

These protests followed an operation conducted a few days ago by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service against three ISIS militants in Pirde.

However, during the clash, Murad Zana, 14, and Muhammed Hemin, 15, both the only children of their respective families, were martyred.

This caused deep concern among local residents, who are demanding that security forces prioritize the protection of civilian lives during operations.

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