Shafaq News- Al-Sulaimaniyah

The Health Ministry in the Kurdistan Region on Friday launcheda legal investigation to hold those responsible accountable after a privatehospital reportedly refused to admit an injured Iranian opposition fighter,leading to her death.

In a statement, the ministry clarified that the injuredwoman, Ghazal Molan, was transferred from Shoresh Hospital, affiliated with thePeshmerga Health Foundation, to Bahxshin private hospital, but was not receivedor provided with the necessary medical treatment. “Any negligence in this case is completely unacceptable,”the statement added, stressing that health institutions must fulfill theirhumanitarian duty to protect lives and “must not be influenced by any politicalpressure or intentions.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a security source in Al-Sulaimaniyah toldShafaq News that a member of the Komala Party died from severe injuriessustained in a drone strike that targeted the Sordash camp.

The Central Committee of the Komala Party condemned missileand drone attacks carried out by Iran against refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region,saying the Sordash camp is officially recognized by both the Iraqi governmentand the Kurdistan Region Government.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Drone and missile strikes hit campsof Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Erbil, the capital of the KurdistanRegion of Iraq, killing three people and wounding several others in apreliminary toll, a local source told Shafaq News on Friday.

Speaking to our agency, KarimParwizi, a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), said thestrikes targeted the Jezhnikan and Balisan camps, killing a child and twoparty-affiliated Peshmerga fighters.

He added that the party’s camps havebeen subjected to “more than 20 Iranian drone and missile attacks” since theannouncement of a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

Shafaq News- Antalya

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani held aseries of meetings on Friday with Iranian, European, British, and Jordanianofficials on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026),focusing on the fallout of the recent regional conflict and efforts to sustainthe ceasefire.

During talks with Iranian Deputy Foreign MinisterSaeed Khatibzadeh, both sides emphasized the importance of preserving the truceafter 40 days of fighting and preventing renewed escalation. The discussionalso addressed relations between Baghdad, Erbil, and Tehran and the need tostrengthen cooperation.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و جێگری وەزیری دەرەوەی ئێران كۆبوونه‌وه‌https://t.co/Wf70rjt0z1 pic.twitter.com/2Z1FHHwNgY

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) April 17, 2026

In a separate meeting with EU Special Envoy for theGulf Luigi Di Maio, the agenda covered ties with the European Union, alongsideregional developments, with both sides pointing to the importance of continuedcooperation to support security and expand economic and political engagement.

Barzani also met UK Minister of State for the MiddleEast Hamish Falconer, reviewing relations with the United Kingdom and politicaldevelopments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, including efforts to form a newgovernment. The talks highlighted the importance of unity among Kurdishpolitical parties to preserve stability and manage ongoing challenges, whilealso covering developments in Syria.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و وەزیری دەوڵەتی بەریتانیا دۆخی عێراق و ناوچەکە تاوتوێ دەکەنhttps://t.co/VdqMnaItcq pic.twitter.com/j3ugdje7rR

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) April 17, 2026

The Kurdish President further discussed bilateral tiesand regional developments with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Ayman Safadi. Barzani expressedappreciation for Amman’s support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و وەزیری دەرەوەی ئوردن داكۆكى لە بره‌ودان به‌ پەیوەندییەکان دەکەنەوەhttps://t.co/RjGVDa5bVW pic.twitter.com/t2PnHz2obD

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) April 17, 2026

Across the meetings, participants highlighteddiplomacy as the primary path to resolving disputes and preventing furtherescalation.

Read more: Nechirvan Barzani: The Man with the Map

Shafaq News-Antalya

KurdistanRegion President Nechirvan Barzani and Syrian transitional President Ahmedal-Sharaa discussed Syria's stabilization and the future of the agreement withthe Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the sidelines of the fifthAntalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye.

Both sidesdiscussed strengthening ties between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Syria “toadvance shared security and economic objectives.”

Barzani alsocommended al-Sharaa for progress made in implementing the agreement with the SDF,the Kurdish-led armed group that controls large areas of northeastern Syria.

I was pleased to meet President Ahmed Al-Sharaa today in Antalya. I commended President Sharaa for his continued efforts to stabilize Syria and for the progress made in implementing the agreement with the SDF.We also discussed strengthening ties between Iraq, the Kurdistan… pic.twitter.com/w1J4Y7xBU2

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) April 17, 2026

Shafaq News- Antalya

Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani and Tom Barrack,US special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkiye, on Friday discussed theimpact of the war on Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, on the sidelines ofthe 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026), to which the president arrived inAntalya a day earlier.

The talks covered broader regional developments, withboth sides highlighting the need for continued coordination to supportstability and advance peace. Discussions also addressed ties between Baghdad, Erbil,and Washington, alongside developments in Syria and the situation of Kurdishcommunities.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و نێردەی سەرۆک ترەمپ بۆ كاروبارى سووريا دۆخى ناوچه‌كه‌ تاوتوێ ده‌كه‌نhttps://t.co/8fOoz9Ymfu pic.twitter.com/w4jAIRKgfY

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) April 17, 2026

Other issues of mutual interest were also reviewed.

Since hostilities escalated between the United States,Iran, and Israel on February 28, the Kurdistan Region has faced around 650missile and drone incidents affecting diplomatic facilities, sites linked toIranian Kurdish opposition groups, Peshmerga positions, oil fields,communication networks, residential areas, and public infrastructure, leavingabout 16 people dead and 100 injured.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

About the ADF2026

Hosted by Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs underthe auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ADF2026 runs from April 17 to19 in Antalya under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” bringingtogether global leaders, policymakers, diplomats, academics, and civil societyrepresentatives to address emerging challenges and future risks.

Shafaq News- Erbil

A wet winter has given way to a verdant spring across Kurdistan Region's border highlands, drawing tourists to mountain slopes carpeted in wildflowers and fed by swollen waterfalls.

Shafaq News correspondents captured scenes from Hawraman, Hmishwan Falls, Noroli, and Sazan -rugged border areas hugging the Iranian frontier- where heavy seasonal rains and late snowfall have left the terrain unusually lush.

The past winter brought successive rain fronts across the Region, with particularly dense snowfall blanketing the highland zones in its final weeks. The runoff has reinvigorated waterfalls and greened hillsides that now draw visitors at the opening of the spring tourism season.

Read more: Discover Kurdistan: The Middle East's best-kept travel secret

Shafaq News- Duhok

Authorities in Duhok destroyed 608 landmines and explosiveremnants of war collected across the province in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,since the start of 2026, an official said on Thursday.

Riker Besfki, media officer at Duhok’s Directorate of MineAffairs, told Shafaq News that a large portion of the materials had been buriedunderground, with recent heavy rainfall exposing them in several areas, addingthat the disposal operation was carried out as part of routine campaigns by theGeneral Directorate of Mine Affairs.

On January 8, 2026, the authority reported that landmineincidents across the region in 2025 killed or injured 29 people, with many ofthe devices dating back to mines the former Iraqi army planted during theIran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

Iraq is considered one of the most heavily contaminatedcountries in the world with landmines and unexploded ordnance, according tolocal and international reports, posing ongoing threats to civilians andcausing fatalities and permanent injuries decades after successive conflicts.

Read more: Floods unearth Iraq’s hidden mines, reviving a wartime threat

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader, Masoud Barzani, said Thursday he would not accept the “manipulation” of Kirkuk voters' will through "suspicious Rashid Hotel deals."

His remarks came as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) confirmed it would participate in a provincial council session to implement a two-year-old power-sharing agreement set to hand the governorship to a Turkmen figure -the first time a non-Kurdish official would hold the post. PUK spokesman Karwan Gaznei said in a statement that the rotation was the result of a prior agreement and represented "a normal democratic process," adding that "no position is a political inheritance."

A provincial council member told Shafaq News the governor's resignation had been submitted in writing from the outset as part of the political deal, while Governor Rebwar Taha's media office insisted he remained in post and had submitted no resignation letter to the council.

The dispute traces back to August 2024, when more than half the provincial council elected Taha as governor at a session in Baghdad's Al-Rasheed Hotel -boycotted by the KDP, Turkmens, and several Arab members- leaving the administration disputed from day one.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Authorities in Al-Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,marked Kurdistan Environment Day on Thursday with a series of environmentalactivities, including large-scale tree planting campaigns across the city.

Ali Hamed, spokesperson for the province’s ParksDirectorate, told Shafaq News that the activities are part of a broader programset to continue in the coming days. He added that several organizations willalso launch awareness campaigns to promote environmental responsibility, notingthat “Al-Sulaymaniyah maintains relatively strong environmental conditions dueto its green spaces, which exceed international standards.”

At a press conference, Maarouf Majeed, head of the FutureOrganization for Environmental Protection, stated that the Kurdistan Parliamentin 2008 designated April 16 as an environmental symbol coinciding with theanniversary of the 1987 chemical bombardment campaigns carried out by theBaathist regime.

“The occasion does not receive sufficient attention fromgovernment institutions, civil society organizations, or the media,” he said,urging the Ministry of Agriculture to capitalize on this year’s rainfall toexpand vegetation cover and increase green spaces to strengthen environmentalresilience.

Majeed pointed out that key environmental challenges in theKurdistan Region include encroachment on agricultural land, rising pollutionlevels, urban expansion, and population growth, “all of which have negativelyaffected environmental conditions.”

Read more: Iraq’s water crisis deepens: Reserves collapse, mismanagement continues

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdish Ministry of Interior on Thursday renewed calls for a jointadministration in Iraq’s Kirkuk province, as political tensions escalated overefforts to remove current Governor Rebwar Taha.

During a press conference, Kurdish Interior Minister Rebar Ahmedunderlined that Kirkuk’s governance should reflect all communities and bealigned with electoral outcomes, calling for compliance with constitutionalprovisions, including Article 140 on disputed territories.

He also criticized the current provincial administration, describing itsformation as the result of what he described as a “suspicious deal” atBaghdad’s Rashid Hotel, while rejecting efforts to rotate the governorship toIraqi Turkmen Front leader Mohammed Samaan.

The dispute traces back to an August 10, 2024, session of the provincialcouncil in Baghdad, where Taha was elected governor in a vote boycotted byseveral Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen members, leaving the administrationcontested from the outset. Tensions have since resurfaced amid reports of aprevious power-sharing understanding under which Taha, a senior official in thePatriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), would step aside in favor of a Turkmen candidate.His office, however, maintains that he remains in post and has not submittedany resignation.

Earlier today, dozens of residents of Kirkuk, most of them Kurds,demonstrated in front of the provincial headquarters, rejecting calls forTaha’s removal. According to Shafaq News correspondent, protesters carriedbanners and chanted slogans in support of the current administration, warningthat any change at this stage could trigger political and security tensions inthe ethnically diverse province.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Region on Thursday marked the anniversary ofthe 1987 chemical attack on Kurdish villages, describing the assault as one ofthe most serious crimes carried out under Iraq’s former Baathist regime, whilerenewing calls for compensation for victims’ families.

In a statement, Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani commemoratedthe victims of the chemical bombardment of Balisan, Sheikh Wasanan and theKhoshnawati Valley, noting that the attacks marked the start of a broaderpattern of chemical strikes against Kurdish civilians.

Describing the 1987 operation as a major crime targeting“not only people but also the land and natural surroundings of Kurdistan,” henoted that the affected areas had long supported the Kurdish cause and thePeshmerga.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also markedthe anniversary, honoring the victims and pointing to what he described as thesacrifices of residents in the affected areas. In a post on X, he reiteratedcalls for Baghdad to compensate families of Anfal victims.

On the 39th anniversary of the chemical attacks on Balisan, Sheikh Wasanan, and Khoshnawati Valley, we honor the martyrs of this massacre with pride and reverence, and express deep appreciation for the struggle and sacrifice of the resilient people of these areas.We emphasize… pic.twitter.com/I5pwrlMS6v

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) April 16, 2026

About the Genocide

Carried out on April 16, 1987, the chemical attacks killed263 people and injured more than 620. The assault forms part of the Anfalcampaign, which began in 1986, escalated in 1988, and continued through 1989.

Led by Ali Hassan al-Majid —infamously known as “ChemicalAli,” he served as Secretary General of the Baath Party’s Northern Bureau andmilitary governor of the region, while military operations were commanded byformer Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim. On May 3, 2011, the Iraqi HighCriminal Court classified the Anfal campaign as a “crime against humanity andgenocide,” convicting al-Majid, who was also responsible for the chemicalattack on Halabja. He received a death sentence and was executed on January 25,2010.

Shafaq News- Erbil

A drone strike targeted the “Bak Shar” camp belonging to KurdistanFreedom Party north of Erbil early Thursday, Khalil Kanisanani, spokespersonfor the group, said, adding that the strike destroyed two houses with no casualtiesreported.

The attack comes as the Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministrynoted that several drones had targeted multiple locations across the regiondespite the declared truce, focusing on camps and headquarters of IranianKurdish opposition groups.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacksfollowing the ceasefire. In previous incidents, Iran’s Islamic RevolutionaryGuard Corps (IRGC) and the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a network ofIran-aligned armed factions, have claimed strikes targeting sites linked to theUS presence as well as bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.

Shafaq News- Kirkuk

The Kurdistan Democratic Party(KDP) bloc in Kirkuk’s Provincial Council said on Wednesday it will boycott asession scheduled for Thursday to elect a new governor, describing the move asa “principled position” against what it called the marginalization of the province’sgenuine representation.

In a statement, the bloc said theboycott reflects its longstanding political stance, recalling its previousrefusal to attend the well-known “Rashid Hotel meeting.” It stressed thatdetermining Kirkuk’s future “cannot take place behind closed doors or throughdeals that ignore the city’s legitimate representatives.”

The bloc rejected participationin what it described as a political process driven by external pressures at theexpense of local aspirations, warning that imposing decisions without publicconsent could harm the province’s fragile coexistence.

“We remain committed to Barzani’senduring approach and are prepared, as always, to bear the cost of defendingnational rights,” the statement said, adding that “positions hold no value ifthe price is subordination or silence over the marginalization of originalcomponents.”

The statement affirmed that thebloc seeks to remain an inclusive umbrella for all communities in Kirkuk,adding that its support for any future political agreement depends on fairness,equal rights, and prioritizing the province’s interests over partisanconsiderations.

Attention is focused onThursday’s emergency session of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, which isexpected to address the position of governor amid intensified politicalactivity.

Earlier on Wednesday, the mediaoffice of Kirkuk Governor Rebar Taha confirmed that he continues to carry outhis official duties, denying reports that he had submitted his resignation.

However, political indicationssuggest that Taha’s resignation could be activated during the session as partof arrangements to elect a successor. Among the names under consideration isMohammed Samaan, head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, as part of a broader agreementto rotate key positions among the province’s ethnic components.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesdaypraised France’s support for Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, and its rolein promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

During a meeting withFrench Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel, the two sides reviewed recent regionaldevelopments and their impact on security, expressing hope that the ceasefirewill hold and pave the way for an end to the conflict and a lasting settlement.

سەرۆک نێچیرڤان بارزانی و باڵیۆزی فەرەنسا دۆخی ناوچەکە و پرۆسەی سیاسی تاوتوێ دەکەنhttps://t.co/zCKLwsuV3Q pic.twitter.com/XWZRBlsz5e

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

The talks also addressed political developments in Baghdadand Erbil, highlighting the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding inresolving disputes.

Shafaq News- Erbil

A drone attack on Wednesday targeted a headquarters ofthe Iranian Kurdish opposition Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) inErbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, a senior party member toldShafaq News.

Karim Parwizi said the strike hit a site in the Degalaarea without causing casualties.

No details were released on damage or thoseresponsible, and authorities have yet to issue an official account of theincident.

Since hostilities escalated between the United States,Iran, and Israel on February 28, the Kurdistan Region has faced around 650missile and drone incidents affecting diplomatic facilities, sites linked toIranian Kurdish opposition groups, Peshmerga positions, oil fields,communication networks, residential areas, and public infrastructure, leavingabout 16 people dead and 100 injured.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani marked the Yazidi New Yearon Wednesday with a message of support, underlining calls for coexistence,security, and protection of rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In a post on X, Barzani noted that the Region continues to represent ashared home for all communities, stressing coexistence, tolerance, and mutualacceptance across its diverse population.

Cejna sersala Êzidiyan li hemû xuşk û bira û welatiyên me yên Êzidî li Kurdistanê, Iraqê û li her dera cîhanê bin, bi germî û ji dil pîroz dikim. Hêviya cejneke aram û pir xweşî ji wan hemûyan re dixwazim, hêvîdar im ev sersal bibe destpêka saleke tije serkeftin û tenahî.Di vê…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) April 15, 2026

The Yazidi community observes its New Year (Sere Sal) on the firstWednesday of the Eastern calendar month of April. The celebration takes placethrough religious rituals and cultural traditions in Sinjar, Baaj, and Sheikhanin Iraq’s Nineveh province. Earlier, the Yazidi Spiritual Council canceledformal prayers and religious ceremonies for this year’s celebrations, citingthe current security situation.

Read more: More than 80 displaced families return to Sinjar despite challenges

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A drone attack targeted a position of the Iranian oppositiongroup Komala in Al-Sulaymaniyah province, killing one member of the group, asecurity source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

Ghazal Mola, a fighter within Komala forces, died fromsevere injuries sustained in the strike that hit the Surdash camp, the sourceadded.

Earlier in the day, another security source reported thatsites belonging to Komala in the Surdash area had come under attack by drones.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan RegionCounter-Terrorism Directorate on Tuesday reported the downing of twoexplosive-laden drones over Erbil, without casualties or damage.

The aircraft were detected at17:04 local time after being launched from Iranian territory toward theprovince, with warplanes intercepting both before reaching their targets.

Since hostilities escalatedbetween the United States, Iran, and Israel on February 28, the KurdistanRegion has faced around 650 missile and drone incidents affecting diplomaticfacilities, sites linked to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, Peshmerga positions,oil fields, communication networks, residential areas, and publicinfrastructure, leaving about 16 people dead and 100 injured.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A drone strike on Tuesdaytargeted positions belonging to the Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala inIraq’s Kurdistan Region, a security source told Shafaq News.

The attack hit sites in theSurdas area of Al-Sulaymaniyah province, with no confirmed information oncasualties or damage. Authorities have not issued an official account of theincident or identified those responsible.

Since hostilities escalated between the United States, Iran, and Israel on February 28, the Kurdistan Region has faced around 650 missile anddrone incidents affecting diplomatic facilities, sites linked to IranianKurdish opposition groups, Peshmerga positions, oil fields, communication networks,residential areas, and public infrastructure, leaving about 16 people dead and100 injured.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Residents of Chamchamal district in Al-Sulaymaniyah province gathered onTuesday to mark the anniversary of the Anfal campaign in an informal popularceremony, held in the absence of any official events, according to ShafaqNews correspondent.

Families of the Anfal victims said "their wounds are renewed eachyear with the return of this anniversary," describing the campaigns as"a grave injustice that targeted the very existence of the Kurdish peopleand was carried out as part of deliberate Baathist policies." They said"they have yet to receive their full rights as guaranteed by law and theconstitution," and called on both the Baghdad government and the KurdistanRegional Government to give greater attention to their cause and providedignified living conditions in their areas following years of displacement.

The Chamchamal district administration had announced on Monday that noofficial ceremonies would be held this year due to general circumstances.Official participation was limited to a brief appearance by the governor ofAl-Sulaymaniyah and several political figures, who laid wreaths at thecommemoration site without organizing formal events.

April 14 marks the 38th anniversary of the Anfal campaigns, carried outby Saddam Hussein's regime against Kurdish civilians in 1988. The operationsran from February 22 to September 6 of that year across eight phases, targetingwide areas of Kurdistan, including Al-Sulaymaniyah, Qaradagh, Garmian, andBadinan. They involved multiple military and security formations, including thearmy, air force, Republican Guard, and intelligence services. Estimates indicate the campaigns resulted in the deaths of approximately182,000 Kurdish civilians, the destruction of more than 4,500 villages, and theuse of internationally prohibited weapons, including chemical arms. Thecampaign was led by Ali Hassan al-Majid, infamously known as "ChemicalAli," who served as Secretary General of the Baath Party's Northern Bureauand military governor of the region, while military operations were commandedby former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim. The chemical attack on Halabjaon March 16, 1988, one of the most prominent episodes of the Anfal, killed morethan 5,000 civilians, the majority of them women and children.

The Anfal operations were classified as genocide under internationalstandards and by the Iraqi High Criminal Court, which issued death sentencesand life imprisonment verdicts in 2007 against several officials from theformer regime, most notably al-Majid and Sultan Hashim. On May 3, 2011, thecourt further confirmed the genocide classification, having previouslyconvicted al-Majid —who was also responsible for the Halabja chemical attack—and sentenced him to death. He was executed on January 25, 2010. 

Read more: Kurdistan remains a steadfast haven for the persecuted 40 years after the Anfal genocide

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) warned on Tuesdaythat selecting Iraq’s president without Kurdish consensus could undermine theKurdistan Region’s rights, days after parliament elected Nizar Amedi of thePatriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), its main Kurdish rival.

Speaking at a press conference, Ali Hussein, a memberof the KDP’s political bureau in Al-Sulaymaniyah, stressed that the party holdsno objection to the current president or any individual candidate, but“reserves its position on the mechanism of election.” He underlined that, since2003, the presidency has been allocated to the Kurdish component throughinternal agreement among Kurdish parties.

Hussein cautioned that resolving the post throughalliances with non-Kurdish blocs, rather than intra-Kurdish consensus, maycarry political consequences. “This entitlement should be resolved within theKurdish house,” he noted, referring to Kurdish lawmakers in parliament.

On relations with the PUK, Hussein described ties as“good,” while acknowledging that coordination has slowed due to recentpolitical developments and regional tensions.

The Kurdish official also confirmed ongoing meetingsin Erbil between the KDP’s parliamentary bloc and its governmentrepresentatives in Baghdad to reassess Iraq’s political trajectory,particularly following the presidential vote and discussions over forming thenext government. The talks aim to present proposals for navigating the nextphase amid broader regional instability.

On April 11, Iraq’s parliament elected Amedi aspresident in a second round of voting with 227 votes, after previous attemptsfailed to secure quorum amid Kurdish divisions over a joint candidate. Lawmakersfrom the KDP, the largest Kurdish bloc, boycotted the session, as party leader MasoudBarzani opposed proceeding with the presidential election without broaderpolitical agreement, including alignment on forming the next government.

Read more: Iraq's Presidential vote was a coalition rehearsal —and the premiership battle has already begun

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President NechirvanBarzani on Tuesday urged Baghdad to compensate victims of the Anfal campaign,marking the 38th anniversary of what he described as “a horrific act” committedby Iraq’s former regime.

Barzani said the campaign killedmore than 182,000 civilians, calling it “a brutal attempt to eradicate apeaceful people,” which left “deep scars that continue to affect our nationtoday.”

ئەمڕۆ یادی به‌ئازارى (38) ساڵەی شاڵاوە بەدناوەکانی ئەنفالى 1988 دەکەینەوە. ئەو تاوانه‌ سامناكه‌ى ڕژێمی پێشووی عێراق ئه‌نجامى دا كه‌ زياتر لە 182 هەزار منداڵ، ئافره‌ت، پیاو و گەنجی بێتاوانى كوردستانى، تيايدا بوونە قوربانی. ئه‌نفال ته‌نيا تاوانێك نه‌بوو، به‌ڵكوو هەوڵی نه‌زۆكى…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) April 14, 2026

While calling for material and moralcompensation in line with rulings by Iraq’s High Criminal Court, Barzanireaffirmed efforts to secure international recognition of Anfal as genocide,and highlighted ongoing work to locate mass graves, return victims’ remains tothe homeland, and expand services for affected families.

He stressed that safeguarding theKurdistan Region’s constitutional status requires unity among political forces,describing such cooperation as “the highest form of respect for the martyrs’sacrifices” and a guarantee for future generations.

About TheGenocide

The Anfal campaign, which began in 1986, intensified in 1988, and continued through 1989,was led by Ali Hassan al-Majid —infamously known as "Chemical Ali."He served as Secretary General of the Baath Party’s Northern Bureau andmilitary governor of the region, while the military operations were commandedby former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim.

On May 3,2011, the Iraqi High Criminal Court classified the Anfal campaign as a “crimeagainst humanity and genocide,” convicting al-Majid, who was also behind thechemical attack on Halabja. He was sentenced to death and executed on January25, 2010.

TheKurdistan Regional Government has designated April 14 annually as a day ofremembrance for the victims of this genocide.

Shafaq News- Duhok

The Yazidi Spiritual Council has canceled all publicgatherings and ceremonies for the Yazidi New Year, known as Red Wednesday*, atLalish Temple this year due to security concerns, an official told Shafaq News onMonday.

Khaled Narmo, advisor to the Yazidi prince and member of thecouncil said that the decision applies only to public ceremonies at Lalish anddoes not affect traditional practices observed in private settings. Religiousrituals and traditions within villages and homes will continue as usual,including egg coloring and other customary practices, but on a smaller scalewith limited gatherings.

Narmo said the move aims to protect the safety of citizensand visitors amid the current situation in the Kurdistan Region and surroundingareas.

The faith, which belongs to the broader Yazdani religioustradition, has historical ties to the Yazidi and Yarsani communities. Accordingto the Minority Rights Group, Iraq is home to an estimated 110,000 to 200,000Kakais, with most living in areas southeast of Kirkuk, the Nineveh Plains, andprovinces such as Diyala, Erbil, and al-Sulaymaniyah.

The Yazidis, an ancient monotheistic religious minority innorthern Iraq, were targeted when ISIS attacked Sinjar in August 2014 in anassault later classified as genocide by the United Nations and itsinvestigative body, UNITAD. Thousands were killed or kidnapped, according to UNdocumentation, while Amnesty International —citing the Office for KidnappedYazidis in Duhok— estimates about 2,600 remain missing; Save the Childrenreports more than 1,300 children are still unaccounted for.

Read more: Between ritual and remembrance: Yazidis mark Ezi Feast

*Red Wednesday marks the Yazidi New Year and is the mostimportant religious occasion for the Yazidi community, traditionally celebratedat Lalish, their holiest site.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Flights resumed on Monday at Jalal Talabani International Airport inAl-Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region, after a suspension lasting more than40 days imposed by Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Dana Mohammed, the airport’s media director, told Shafaq News that thefirst flight departed at dawn for Jordan, with a return flight scheduled laterthe same day. Operations restarted in line with a schedule issued by the AviationAuthority, with regular inbound and outbound flights expected to continue inthe coming days.

The suspension stemmed from security risks to civil aviation linkedto the recent military escalation involving the United States, Israel, andIran, before authorities reopened Iraq’s airspace on April 8, citing restoredstability and a return to normal conditions.

Shafaq News-Al-Sulaymaniyah

UAE-based DanaGas resumed production at the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan Regionafter partially halting operations in recent weeks due to escalating regionaltensions, the company announced on Monday.

In a statement,the company said it implemented precautionary measures to ensure a “safe andorderly” restart, in coordination with relevant government authorities.

Dana Gasemphasized that protecting personnel, infrastructure, and assets remains a toppriority, adding that it will continue production under “high safety andefficiency standards” to support energy supplies in Kurdistan.

Sincehostilities escalated between the United States, Iran, and Israel on February28, the Kurdistan Region has absorbed around 650 missile and drone attacks,leaving about 16 people dead and 100 others injured, prompting operators toscale back activity at key energy sites, including Khor Mor of Al-Sulaymaniyahprovince.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon