In a troubling turn of events, The local authorities swiftly responded by imposing a curfew to restore order and prevent further violence. This article presents the facts surrounding this unfortunate incident.
Kirkuk, situated in northern Iraq, is known for its diverse ethnic makeup, comprising Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen. This diversity has historically been a source of tension, primarily related to territorial and resource disputes.
The ethnic clashes that transpired on Saturday involved members of different ethnic communities within Kirkuk. The cause of the conflict between Kurdish residents on one side and Turkmen and Arabs on the other descended into violence despite a security presence.
Tragically, the violence resulted in the loss of three lives, while sixteen others sustained injuries of varying degrees. Two people were shot in the chest and one in the head, local health director Ziad Khalaf told AFP. The victims are a 21-year-old male and two 37-year-old males. More. Khalaf said that bullets, stones, or glass hit the wounded, including Kurds, Arabs, and three members of the security forces. In response to the escalating violence, local authorities imposed a curfew in the affected areas. Curfews serve as a common measure during such incidents to restore peace and order while allowing security forces to investigate and contain the situation.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called for a commission to be set up to investigate the incident, and his office promised in a press release that “workers will be held accountable”. Kirkuk is a historical conflict between the government in Baghdad and the authorities of the northern Kurdistan region. Arab and Turkmen rebels clashed on Monday near the Iraqi security forces base in Kirkuk province; Reports emerged that Sudani ordered the organization to send it to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which occupied this place before. An AFP reporter said Kurdish rebels tried to reach the headquarters on Saturday.
This incident in Kirkuk underscores the persisting challenges that Iraq faces concerning ethnic and sectarian tensions. These tensions, deeply rooted in history, continue to test the nation’s stability and unity.