Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is hometo eight officially recognized religions and sects and more than 6,800religious sites, according to the Media and Information Department of theKurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The Region's population includesTurkmens, Chaldean Syriac Assyrians, Armenians, and other ethnic groups,alongside Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Sabean Mandaeans, Kakais, and otherreligious communities. These groups have participated in political life andpublic institutions since the establishment of the Kurdistan Region, with thecurrent ninth cabinet including two ministers representing minority groups,while dedicated ministries oversee minority affairs and religious endowments.

In the education sector, 19Turkmen-language schools serve 1,995 students, while 50 Syriac-language schoolseducate 6,690 others. Thousands more receive instruction in Turkmen and Syriacalongside Kurdish-language education.

Kurdistan contains 6,224 mosques,273 churches and Christian religious sites, and 325 Yazidi shrines, temples,and religious landmarks. It also hosts 36 non-governmental organizations“focused on coexistence, cultural preservation, and the protection of socialdiversity.”

The data also highlighted theRegion's response to the 2014 ISIS offensive, during which it received tens ofthousands of displaced Christians and Yazidis fleeing violence. Authoritieshave since undertaken efforts to restore religious sites and support affectedcommunities.

Read more: Iraqi Kurdistan’s pluralism: A living model of coexistence

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A new all-female music group, the Kurdistan Girls Music Band, waslaunched on Monday in Al-Sulaymaniyah to preserve Kurdish musical heritage andexpand women’s role in the cultural sector.

Unveiled during a ceremony at the Karim Alaka Foundation in the province,Hawkar Mohammed, the band’s supervisor, described the initiative as areflection of confidence in Kurdish women’s abilities, noting that membershipremains open to female musicians from across the Kurdistan Region.

“Music is a universal language capable of carrying messages of peace andmutual understanding among peoples,” he added, stressing that the project goesbeyond assembling musicians, presenting it instead as a message of unity andsupport for the advancement of Kurdish music and the arts.

Also present at the event, Shakhwan Sadiq, the Foundation’s director,outlined the project’s focus on preserving Kurdish traditions and supportingtalented female musicians through the organization’s sponsorship.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

The University of Sulaimani on Monday became the first public universityin the Kurdistan Region to obtain an international ISO certification instandardization and business management, the University President KosarMohammed said on Monday.

According to Mohammed, the certification confirms that the university'smanagement systems meet internationally recognized standards, providing globalrecognition of its administrative and organizational practices.

Founded in 1968 and re-established in 1992 with support from the latePresident Jalal Talabani and other political and academic leaders, theUniversity of Sulaimani is one of Kurdistan’s oldest higher educationinstitutions. It currently ranks first in the Kurdistan Region and thirdnationwide, according to international assessments.

Shafaq News- Duhok

The decision by the Duhok Directorate of Endowments (Awqaf)to regulate loudspeaker volumes in mosques has sparked debate, with supporters callingit a necessary step to reduce noise and overlapping broadcasts, while criticsargued it could affect the Islamic call to prayer.

Denying the claim, the Directorate said the measure does nottarget the adhan (Islamic prayer calling) and is intended only to regulate sound levelsinside and outside mosques.

Abdul Razzaq Kofli, deputy director-general of the Directorate,told Shafaq News that the decision applies across all six districts of Duhokprovince and was introduced following requests and proposals from worshippersand residents living near mosques.

He noted that Duhok province has 1,106 mosques, clarifyingthat the directorate is working to improve their performance and organize theuse of loudspeakers.

The issue is not about preventing or reducing the call toprayer, he argued, explaining that it is about addressing significantdifferences in volume levels between mosques. “Some operate at very low levels,while others use loudspeakers at excessively high volumes.”

According to Kofli, the proximity of some mosques to oneanother can also lead to overlapping calls to prayer and prayer recitations,affecting worshippers’ concentration and creating audio disturbances in certainneighborhoods. He vowed the directorate will continue implementing themeasure, adding that, alongside criticism, the directorate has receivedmessages of appreciation from worshippers and residents who said the changesimproved audio quality and reduced noise disturbances.

Read more: Discover Iraq: Duhok —haven and hardship in Iraqi Kurdistan's frontier

Shafaq News- Duhok

Authorities in Duhok province, inIraq's Kurdistan Region, have allowed residents of several border villages toreturn for daytime visits for the first time in nearly a decade, easingrestrictions imposed during years of conflict between the Turkish military andthe Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Derkar Mayor Jawhar Mohammed toldShafaq News that the decision covers between nine and 10 villages within thesubdistrict, along with several villages in Batifa district. Residents will bepermitted to visit daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

Before implementing the measure,local authorities coordinated with village representatives and informedresidents of safety precautions, particularly the risks posed by landmines andunexploded ordnance in areas that had remained closed for a prolonged period.

Hashim Kashani, Mukhtar of Kashanvillage, noted that residents of 13 villages received permission to visit in2026 after years of waiting, while several others remain off limits because ofdamage caused by shelling and armed clashes. Villages including Sili, Ek Male,and Nazur (نزور) are no longer suitable for habitation, with residents now visitingmainly to inspect their land and property.

The PKK, founded in 1978, maintainsa significant presence in parts of northern Iraq and southeastern Turkiye. Thegroup has been engaged in an armed conflict with the Turkish state since 1984,which has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths. Turkiye, the United States, andthe European Union designate the group as a terrorist organization, while Iraqclassifies it as a “banned organization.” Last year, the group's imprisonedfounder, Abdullah Ocalan, urged the PKK to convene a congress, lay down itsarms, and formally disband.

Human rights organizations havereported that 145 villages in Duhok's border areas have been evacuated since2015 because of airstrikes and sustained military pressure linked to theconflict.

Read more: Duhok —haven and hardship in Iraqi Kurdistan's frontier

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and British Ambassador to Iraq Irfan Siddiq on Monday welcomed the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that it would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.

During a meeting in Erbil, the two sides discussed relations between the United Kingdom, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, as well as recent political developments in the country.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و باڵیۆزی بەریتانیا دۆخی ناوچەکە تاوتوێ دەکەنhttps://t.co/8sYoIz7eQz pic.twitter.com/XqLT9RkISf

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) June 15, 2026

Both sides emphasized the need for continued dialogue and understanding between Erbil and Baghdad to address outstanding issues.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday reaffirmed the Region's commitment to protecting its Christian community and promoting peaceful coexistence, describing Christians as an integral component of Kurdistan and Iraq.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی پیرۆزبایی لە پاتریارک مار پۆڵسى سێيه‌م نۆنا دەکاتhttps://t.co/2t5tpUn4Kn pic.twitter.com/eHx9GJDiks

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) June 15, 2026

During Barzani's visit to St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral in Ankawa, he was received by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and worldwide, along with senior Christian clerics.

Read more: Christians of Iraq: Where did they go?

The Kurdistan Region is home to around 150,000 Christians, making it one of the last strongholds of Iraq’s ancient Christian presence. Nearly 99% of them live in Erbil and Duhok, where churches and community schools have expanded with government support. By contrast, Iraq’s Christian population nationwide has declined from about 1.5 million before 2003 to less than 250,000 today.

Read more: Iraqi Kurdistan’s pluralism: A living model of coexistence

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani said on Mondaythat outstanding disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdadwill top the agenda of US Special Envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack'supcoming trip to Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24 television, Barzani notedthat it would be Barrack's first visit in his current role and indicated thatdiscussions would cover broader Iraqi affairs alongside efforts to easetensions between the federal government and Erbil.

US President Donald Trump appointed Barrack, who is alsoWashington's ambassador to Ankara, as special presidential envoy to Iraq andSyria on May 31. A source previously told Shafaq News that Barrack is expectedto travel to Baghdad and Erbil in the coming days.

Read more: Trump's new Iraq-Syria envoy faces an Iran test Syria never posed

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Mondaywelcomed the nuclear agreement reached between the United States and Iran,expressing hope that all parties would work toward full implementation of thedeal.

Barzani said the agreement should serve to strengthenregional stability, security, and prosperity.

I welcome the announcement of the deal between the United States and Iran.I hope all parties will work in good faith toward the full implementation of the agreement, aiming to strengthen regional stability, security, and prosperity.I extend my sincere appreciation to all…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) June 15, 2026

Shafaq News- Kermanshah

Bureaucratic hurdles prevented cinemas in Iran's westernKermanshah province from obtaining permits to broadcast FIFA World Cup matcheslive, a local official said on Sunday.

Mohammad Javad Kanjouri, head of the cinema sector at theprovince's government-affiliated cultural organization, told Iran's Fars NewsAgency that cinemas are fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure, pointingout that cafes and public venues are already showing World Cup matches.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States,Canada, and Mexico, is the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams,expanded from 32. The competition began on June 11 and will run through July 19

Shafaq News- Erbil

The 2026 World Cup is turning cafés and entertainment venues in Erbil from ordinary gathering places into small football terraces, drawing fans deep into the night for matches watched with stadium-like noise and emotion.

Across the Kurdistan Region’s capital, cafés are competing for crowds with large screens, stronger sound systems, wider seating areas, and special preparations for high-profile matches that begin late because of the time difference with North America. Streets that usually slow after midnight now echo with commentary, lineup debates, goal celebrations, and the silence that follows a missed chance.

Read more: Baghdad cafes and restaurants ride Iraq’s World Cup wave

Mohammed Raskas, who owns a café in Erbil, explained that preparations for the World Cup began early to bring customers closer to the feel of a stadium. “We made sure to install a large screen, a modern sound system, expand the seating area, and provide services for customers,” he told Shafaq News. “Turnout this year is exceptional, and some fans arrive hours before the major matches.”

For many supporters, cafés have become social spaces where debates, analysis, and collective reactions are part of the match itself, including Barzan Khoshnaw, who said, “Gathering with friends and cheering together gives the match a different energy. We do not come only to watch, we come to live the event among crowds that make it more exciting.”

On Popular Housing Street, the tournament has taken an even more open form: outdoor screens have been set up, and dozens of young people gather to watch matches, turning the area into an open-air viewing platform that stays active late into the night.

Kamran Ahmed, 40, noted that the street atmosphere brings spectators closer to the action. “Here, you feel that you are inside the match. Every attack excites everyone, and the discussions and analysis among those present make the match unforgettable.”

For younger fans, the gatherings are also a break from daily pressures and a space that brings together people of different ages, according to Sirwan Hamza, 22. “Even joy after a win or sadness after a loss becomes easier when we share it together.”

World Cup 2026 is the largest edition in history, with 48 teams, 104 matches, and games spread across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. For Iraqis, the tournament carries added weight. Iraq is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 and opens its Group I campaign against Norway at 1:00 AM Baghdad/Erbil time on Wednesday before facing France and Senegal.

Read more: Stage set for Iraq’s World Cup return against Norway

Shafaq News- Ilam

A wildfire burned through around 15 hectares of protected virgin forest in the Kabir Kuh mountain range in Iran's Ilam Province, authorities said on Sunday, as crews remained on alert over the risk of renewed flare-ups in the rugged area.

Speaking to Iran's Mehr News Agency, provincial natural resources official Bassem Khan Mohammadian said the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the highlands overlooking the historic Gavmishan Bridge near Darreh Shahr, prompting a large-scale response involving more than 70 firefighters, environmental workers, and local volunteers.

Stretching about 175 kilometersacross western Iran's Ilam and Lorestan provinces, the Kabir Kuh range containsextensive Persian oak forests and a variety of ecosystems, including steppevegetation and pastures.

ShafaqNews- Erbil

Kurdishleader Masoud Barzani discussed Iraq's security landscape and coordinationbetween Baghdad and Erbil during a meeting on Sunday with a high-level Iraqimilitary delegation led by Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir RashidYarallah.

The twosides also reviewed political and security developments in Iraq and the widerregion, along with a number of issues of mutual interest, stressing theimportance of maintaining cooperation to preserve stability and supportprosperity across the country.

Earliertoday, Yarallah arrived in Erbil under orders from Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidito follow up on security arrangements for oil companies operating in theKurdistan Region. He had already met with Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzaniand Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday underscored the importance of efforts to resume the Region's oil production and exports, describing the move as a significant step toward revitalizing Iraq's economy.

Barzani met earlier today with a high-level Iraqi military delegation led by Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, which arrived in Erbil under orders from Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Al-Zaidi to follow up on security arrangements for oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region.

According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the delegation discussed measures aimed at providing the security guarantees needed to restart oil production and exports, in coordination with the Peshmerga and relevant authorities.

Oil exports from the Region fell from around 200,000 barrels per day to about 20,000 bpd after attacks on energy facilities prompted several foreign companies to suspend operations.

A political source told Shafaq News that the delegation will conduct field visits to several oil fields and hold meetings focused on assessing security conditions and protecting oil facilities and personnel.

The source said Iraqi authorities intend to provide direct assurances to oil companies that attacks targeting energy sites in the Region will not be repeated.

Read more: Into 2026, Baghdad and Erbil face the same disputes—with higher stakes

During separate talks with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Yarallah outlined the objectives of the visit, which include safeguarding oil companies and strengthening security and stability in the Region.

The meetings also stressed the need to strengthen joint security plans and expand cooperation between Iraqi and Kurdish forces to protect stability and address remaining security threats.

President Barzani praised the Iraqi Army's achievements against ISIS and expressed hope that security coordination between Erbil and Baghdad would continue, commending the relationship between the two governments and Al-Zaidi's support for cooperation.

Shafaq News-Erbil

KurdistanRegion President Nechirvan Barzani received a high-level federal militarydelegation in Erbil on Sunday, headed by Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah.

The two sidesdiscussed mechanisms for strengthening joint security andmilitary coordination between the federal forces and the Peshmerga, theKurdistan Region's military force, a source at the Iraqi Ministry of Defensetold Shafaq News. The talks are also set to cover the overall securitysituation in the country and the securing of areas of shared strategic concern, to pursue remnants of terrorist organizations and consolidate regional stability.

A previousround of talks in October 2025 focused on strengthening cooperation between theIraqi Army and the Peshmerga, coordination with the international coalitionahead of the conclusion of its mission in September 2026, Iraq-US securityrelations, counterterrorism efforts, and border security. Yarallah, at the time,characterized cooperation between the army and the Peshmerga as the strongestit had ever been, praising the Kurdish forces' contribution to national security.

The securityfile between Baghdad and Erbil has seen tangible operational progress in recentmonths. In July 2025, Iraqi forces and Peshmerga launched a joint wide-scalesecurity operation in the Qarachogh mountain range northwest of Kirkukfollowing reported movements by ISIS remnants, with the effort coordinatedunder joint operations command centers.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The French Consulate General in Erbil, the capital ofthe Kurdistan Region, organized a cultural celebration on Saturday to markWorld Music Day, observed annually on June 21.

The event attracted prominent artists and culturalfigures and featured a variety of musical performances presented by a selectionof artists.

The global event was launched in France in 1982 at the initiative ofthen-French Culture Minister Jacques Lang and Maurice Fleuret to promote music and break down social barriers.

Shafaq News- Erbil/ Baghdad

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Region’s largest party, on Saturday reaffirmed support for Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s efforts to implement the constitution, send salaries on time, and pursue anti-corruption measures.

The KDP maintained that disputes with Baghdad should continue to be resolved under Iraq’s permanent constitution, especially those linked to the federal budget, financial entitlements, and salaries of Kurdistan Region public employees. Still, it backed the formation of Al-Zaidi’s federal government and pledged continued cooperation with him, expressing hope that agreements reached with the Shiite Coordination Framework, parliament’s largest bloc, would lead to constitutional implementation and timely salary transfers to the Region, both issues Al-Zaidi vowed to address in his government program.

The party also endorsed Al-Zaidi’s early anti-corruption measures, including efforts to recover public wealth, return funds to the state treasury, and prevent waste of national resources.

Baghdad and Erbil entered 2026 with disputes centered on salary funding, oil exports, financial auditing, non-oil revenues, and customs procedures. On June 11, KRG Council of Ministers Secretary Amanj Raheem revealed that oil exports, financial auditing, and non-oil revenues were close to resolution, with an Erbil delegation expected in Baghdad the following week to finalize understandings and seek a permanent settlement to the salary crisis.

Earlier, on May 24, Omed Sabah, head of the Diwan of the Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers, disclosed that Al-Zaidi had instructed the federal Finance Ministry to release Kurdistan Region payroll funding regularly and without discrimination, although, two days later, the KRG Finance Ministry accused Baghdad of transferring about $674.6 million of the more than $735.4 million required for May salaries and pensions, forcing Erbil to borrow ahead of Eid Al-Adha.

Read more: Erbil-Baghdad disputes: A cycle of missed opportunities

The dispute between the KDP (39 seats) and the PUK (23) in the 100-seat Kurdistan parliament also left the two main parties locked in negotiations over power-sharing, senior posts, relations with Baghdad, oil revenues, and administrative authority.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Gasoline prices have risen across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, fueling public frustration and long queues at government-run fuel stations, where fuel remains cheaper than at private outlets.

In Erbil, regular gasoline has climbed to around 1,150 dinars (≈ $0.88) per liter, while improved gasoline reached 1,550 dinars (≈$1.18), with prices varying slightly between stations.

Fuel station owner Hoger Abdullah attributed the increase to lower oil production in Iraq, the fallout from the ongoing regional conflict, and concerns over potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He told Shafaq News that the higher prices have reduced demand and placed additional pressure on taxi drivers and delivery workers.

In Duhok, higher fuel prices led to heavy congestion at government stations, where motorists have queued for hours to buy subsidized gasoline. Drivers reported that the price of regular commercial gasoline has risen from about 850 dinars (≈ $0.65) per liter to more than 1,100 dinars (≈ $0.84) in recent months.

Many motorists have shifted away from commercial stations, increasing pressure on government outlets. Drivers also pointed to the growing number of vehicles in the province and a shortage of government fuel stations relative to demand.

In Al-Sulaymaniyah, gasoline prices increased by 50 dinars (≈ $0.04) per liter across all grades. Regular gasoline now sells for 1,000 dinars (≈ $0.76) per liter, improved gasoline for 1,200 dinars (≈$0.92), and super gasoline for 1,350 dinars (≈ $1.03).

Bahman Qadir, spokesman for fuel station owners in Al-Sulaymaniyah, linked the increase to higher fuel prices in Iran, reduced fuel shipments into the Kurdistan Region, and lower supplies allocated to the province as demand in Erbil grows. He also cited stronger summer demand driven by tourism, commercial activity, and increased travel.

Speaking to Shafaq News, Taxi drivers Sarbast Ahmed and Dilshad Mohammed warned that the increase would hit the transport sector particularly hard during the summer months, when fuel consumption rises because of heavier travel and prolonged air-conditioning use. They said transport fares have failed to keep pace with rising costs and cautioned that higher fuel prices would eventually affect consumers through increased costs for transportation and other services.

Separately, Kurdistan lawmaker Jwanro Mohammed questioned, in a statement, the continued rise in fuel prices despite the allocation of 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Region, calling for those supplies to be used to reduce fuel costs and ease pressure on households.

Shafaq News- Halabja

Civil Defense teams in Halabja province entered their fifthconsecutive day Saturday searching for the body of an 11-year-old girl who fellinto the Zalm waterfall at the Ahmad Awa resort in Halabja of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Shafaq News correspondent reported that rescue teams deployed allavailable equipment to search the waterfall and surrounding waterways. Sweepingand combing operations are continuing across the area under the monitoring ofthe relevant authorities and residents.

The child was from one of Iraq's central provinces.

Ahmad Awa is one of the most prominent tourist destinations inHalabja province, drawing thousands of visitors annually from across Iraq,particularly during the summer season.

Read more: Halabja- Where land, memory, and resilience intertwine

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Fridaycommemorated the victims of the Speicher massacre, reaffirming solidarity withthe families of those killed in one of Iraq's deadliest mass killings.

The Kurdish president said the anniversary is an occasion toremember the innocent victims who lost their lives in one of the “most horrificcrimes” in Iraq's modern history.

Barzani praised “the great sacrifices made in confrontingterrorism and extremism," reiterating the need to ensure justice for thevictims' families and stressing the importance of combating terrorism andextremism in all forms.

في ذكرى فاجعة سبايكر، نستذكر أرواح الشهداء الأبرياء الذين راحوا ضحية واحدة من أبشع الجرائم في تاريخ العراق الحديث. ونجدد تضامننا مع عوائلهم الكريمة، مستذكرين التضحيات الكبيرة التي قُدمت في مواجهة الإرهاب والتطرف.كما نؤكد موقفنا الثابت بضرورة انصاف ذوي الشهداء ومحاربة الإرهاب…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) June 12, 2026

The Speicher massacre took place in June 2014 after ISISseized large parts of Saladin province in northern Iraq. The group executedapproximately 2,000 people, most of them cadets from the Iraqi Air ForceAcademy and security personnel stationed at Camp Speicher, a military base nearTikrit.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre and laterreleased photographs and videos showing its militants capturing unarmedsoldiers who had left the base before carrying out mass executions. 

Read more: 12 years after Camp Speicher massacre and hundreds remain unidentified

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdish Book Fair in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, concluded its eight-day run after attracting more than 78,000 visitors and recording sales of around 100,000 Kurdish-language books, according to organizers.

Rebin Fattah, the fair's supervisor and organizer, told Shafaq News that more than 130 publishing houses, cultural centers, and book-related institutions participated in the event.

He added that organizers had decided to make the exhibition “an annual event” to support publishers and cultural institutions across the Region and expand participation in future editions.

The fair opened in Erbil on June 4 with the participation of about 150 local and specialized publishing houses.

Read more: How Kurdistan is bridging dialects to preserve a rich heritage?

Shafaq New-Erbil

Three keydisputes between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region —oil exports, financialauditing, and non-oil revenues— are close to resolution, a senior Kurdishofficial said on Thursday.

Read more: Kurdistan’s 10th cabinet: Interlocking alliances and persistent political differences

Speaking toreporters, Amanj Raheem, Secretary of the Kurdish Council of Ministers, said adelegation from Erbil will travel to Baghdad next week for talks aimed atfinalizing agreements on the outstanding issues. He added that the RegionalGovernment also aims to permanently resolve the salary crisis and remove itfrom “media disputes.”

Read more: Into 2026, Baghdad and Erbil face the samedisputes—with higher stakes

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Fire incidents across Iraqi Kurdistan’sAl-Sulaymaniyah province claimed three lives, injured 35 people, and causedmaterial losses estimated at around 400 million Iraqi dinars ($256.81K) in May,the provincial Civil Defense Directorate announced on Thursday.

According to official figures, civil defense teamsresponded to 147 incidents and carried out 70 rescue operations during themonth, including 92 vegetation fires, 23 cases involving homes, 21 involvingvehicles, nine affecting commercial premises, and two linked to motorcycles.

Preliminary technical assessments attributed more thanhalf of the cases to electrical faults and gas leaks. The directorate urgedresidents to follow safety precautions and preventive measures to help reducefuture occurrences.

Read more: 1K trees destroyed: Wildfire hits Kurdistan’s Al-Sulaymaniyah

Shafaq News-Erbil

Twoexplosive-laden drones targeted a grain depot in Erbil, the capital of Iraq'sKurdistan Region, the Counter-Terrorism Service announced on Thursday.

In astatement, the agency condemned the "terrorist" operation in theQushtapa district south of the Kurdish capital, saying the strike targetedvital civilian infrastructure that affects the daily lives of residents.

The attackcaused extensive damage to the building, but no casualties were reported.

No party hasclaimed responsibility so far.

According tothe Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), 809 drone and missile attackswere recorded across Kurdistan between February 20 andApril 20, 2026, killing 20 people and injuring 123 others.

ShafaqNews- Zakho

Thousandsgathered in Zakho, a city in northern Iraq's Kurdistan Region known for itsriver landscapes and cross-cultural heritage, for the opening of the fourthShawl and Shabak Festival.

Thetwo-day festival brings together folk artists, academic researchers, andinternational ensembles enjoying Kurdish dress, music, and traditions.

Eachevening, a folkloric market unfolds at the Dalal Bridge —a historic stone archover the Khabur River in central Zakho— bringing together dengbêj* singers fromall four parts of the Kurdish homeland: Iraq, Turkiye, Syria, and Iran.International ensembles from Armenia and Nigeria are also taking part thisyear, according to Shawan Abdi, a member of the organizing committee.

Morningsessions run in parallel at the University of Zakho, pairing academic seminarswith folkloric programming. A traditional costume showcase, in which 40 youngmen and women present Kurdish dress to live audiences, forms the festival'scentrepiece, an effort organizers say is aimed at connecting youngergenerations to a living heritage.

Thefestival takes its name from the shawl and shabak, a hand-woven garmentproduced from goat-hair thread using craft methods transmitted across generations.Still worn at weddings, national occasions, and public ceremonies, it occupiesa place in Kurdish identity roughly analogous to national dress in othercultures.

* Thedengbêj tradition, a form of unaccompanied lyrical poetry passed down throughgenerations, was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2021.