Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) security forces (Asayish) arrested three people suspected of belonging to ISIS in Al-Sulaymaniyah and Kirkukprovinces, the Asayish agency stated on Tuesday.

The suspects werearrested in separate operations in April and June 2026 followingintelligence-led investigations and coordination between security agencies. Theyhad previously attempted to join ISIS through what the group calls"hijrah" (migration), but tightened security measures and the closureof movement routes thwarted their efforts.

Unable to join the group, the suspects turned to onlinepropaganda, managing 10 accounts across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram,and YouTube that allegedly distributed videos, images, and posts promoting ISISand its extremist ideology before judicial arrest warrants were issued.

On July 6, Ahmed Ramzi Kuperlu, head of the Security andDefense Committee in Kirkuk's Provincial Council, told Shafaq News that “securitygaps” along the boundary between Kirkuk and the KRI continue to allow ISISremnants to move and hide because of limited coordination between federalforces and the Peshmerga.

ISIS lost its territorial control in Iraq in 2017 butcontinues to operate through sleeper cells and online propaganda networks.Iraqi and Kurdistan Region security forces regularly conduct intelligence-ledoperations to disrupt the group's activities and recruitment efforts.

Read more: On ISIS defeat anniversary, Iraq confronts a reawakening insurgency

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Activists and civil societyorganizations in Al-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, called on Tuesdayfor eliminating corruption, recovering stolen public funds, and holding allthose involved accountable.

During a protest press conference,organizing committee member Sawara Mahmoud said “fighting corruption requiresaddressing its roots instead of relying on temporary measures,” stressing theneed for serious action across Iraq.

Participants urged comprehensive measurestargeting all individuals and groups involved in corruption and public fundtheft, without political exemptions or special protections. “Recovered fundsshould be returned to the state treasury to help address financial challenges,including delayed salary payments affecting public employees, particularly inthe Kurdistan Region,” they added.

On June 28, Iraqi authoritieslaunched Dawn Crackdown (Sawlat Al-Fajr), a nationwide anti-corruption campaignunder Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s direction, targeting current and formerofficials, lawmakers, politicians, business figures, ministers, directors-general,provincial governors, and other suspects.

Read more: Iraq detains top officials in anti-corruptionsweep: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

A symposium examining the impact ofgeopolitical shifts on women in Kurdish communities opened on Tuesday inAl-Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, bringing together politicians,activists, academics, and women’s organization representatives.

Held under the title “Kurdistan’sGeopolitics and the Status of Women,” the event included speakers such as IlhamAhmed, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the AutonomousAdministration of North and East Syria, and Ayla Akat Ata, an activist andformer Turkish lawmaker.

Speaking to Shafaq News, participantAwan Silwan described the symposium as “a platform for dialogue among womenfrom the four parts of Kurdistan,” aimed at discussing political developments,exchanging expertise, and building a shared vision on women’s issues.

Read more: Kurdistan Region reports 62% progress on women’s rights

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Tuesdaythat Christians are an integral part of the people of Kurdistan during ameeting with the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the world,Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona.

Barzani also committed to protecting their rights andpreserving the Region's culture of diversity, according to a statement by theKurdish Presidency.

Nona, for his part, praised Erbil’s longstanding role as ahaven for all and expressed appreciation for Barzani's continued support forminority rights.

Both sides discussed the situation of Iraq's communities,particularly Christians, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding coexistenceand tolerance.

سەرۆکی هەرێمی کوردستان پێشوازیی لە پاتریارکی کەنیسەی کلدانی لە عێراق و جیهان دەکاتhttps://t.co/CzAKxqTnBc pic.twitter.com/YWjdkOj606

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 7, 2026

Iraq's Christian population, including Chaldean Catholics,has fallen from more than 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 250,000 today,according to church and humanitarian estimates.

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

Shafaq News-Al-Sulaymaniyah

BrigadierGeneral Zolfan Gharib took over as acting head of the General Directorate ofNationality & Regional Civil Status in Al-Sulaymaniyah province on Monday.

Gharib is awell-known security figure in the Kurdistan Region who is also recognized as aprominent writer and an advocate for women's rights, with contributions onsocial issues through her writing.

Under asecurity reshuffle ordered by the Kurdistan Region's Interior Ministry, Gharibassumes the post on a six-month acting basis, succeeding Brigadier General AmidHemn Kamal Nouri, who became acting police chief of Al-Sulaymaniyah, also forsix months, stepping in for Brigadier General Aram Mohammed, who retired onreaching the mandatory age.

Shafaq News-Erbil

The People’sFront Party (PFP) called on Monday for the enforcement of orders issued by theJudicial Council in the case of party leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi and othersdetained alongside him during the 2025 Lalezar case.

Speaking at apress conference, Saber Abdul Rahman, a member of the Front's Supreme Counciland its Presidential Council, called for decisive rulings, as authoritieshandling the case “had failed” to observe provisions of Iraqi law and theKurdistan Region's trial procedures governing the detainees, despite more thantwelve notices from the Judicial Council.

Lawyers for thedetainees accused the Al-Sulaymaniyah court days earlier of obstructingproceedings and yielding to party dominance, appealing to the judicialauthority to protect the independence of the courts and enforce the law.

Awat SheikhJangi, sister of Lahur, urged the Kurdistan Region's political leadership toclose the file, saying the detainees had been held for roughly eleven monthswithout resolution, an outcome she called unacceptable in legal or religiousterms.

The case tracesto August 2025 when Al-Sulaymaniyah saw armed clashes between security forcesand guards protecting Lahur Sheikh Jangi after a court ordered his arrest. Heand his two brothers, Bulad and Aso, were detained under arrest warrantsfollowing a raid on their residence at the Lalezar Hotel in the Sarchnardistrict.

Sheikh Jangiand his associates face charges related to inciting unrest and forming an armedgroup.

Read more: Arresting Lahur Jangi in Al-Sulaymaniyah: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Shafaq News- Al-Hasakah

Kurdish residents from the Syrian city of Ras Al-Ain stageda protest outside the Al-Hasakah province building on Sunday, calling for theirswift return to their hometown.

Displaced resident Shireen Hassan told Shafaq News thatfamilies can no longer endure life in displacement camps. "We have livedin difficult conditions for years while strangers occupy our homes. We want ourcase to be treated as a humanitarian issue, away from politicalconsiderations."

Al-Hasakah Governor Abdul Rahman Mustafa told Shafaq Newsthat the government and relevant authorities are continuing efforts to createthe conditions necessary for the coming back of displaced families, noting thatseveral challenges remain, including clearing landmines and unexplodedordnance, as well as resolving the situation of families living in the area.

Earlier this year, several displaced returned toareas across northern Syria, particularly Afrin.

Ras Al-Ain in northeastern Syria fell under the control ofTurkish-backed Syrian factions during Operation Peace Spring in 2019. Recentagreements between Damascus and Kurdish authorities include provisions on thereturn of displaced residents, but implementation has yet to enable manyfamilies from the city to go back home.

Read more: Kurds in Syria: From marginalization to a defining political force

Shafaq News-Erbil

The ErbilChamber of Commerce and Industry is finalizing preparations for a trilateralinternational economic conference bringing together the Kurdistan Region ofIraq, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan, scheduled for mid-September 2026 in Cyprus.

The Cyprusconference will bring together commercial chambers, economic organizations, andsenior government delegations from the three participating parties, with thestated objective of expanding investment opportunities and deepening economicintegration across the region, according to the chamber's statement.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Security forces arrested on Sunday a prominent Harki tribal figure, Khorshid Latif, and his brother, Haider Latif, under a judicial warrant on charges including murder, incitement against security forces, andprovoking public disorder, the Erbil Police Directorate said.

It accused the brothers of damaging public and privateproperty, causing the deaths of a Peshmerga member and a civilian, burningmilitary equipment, obstructing government projects, and threatening economicinfrastructure in parts of Khabat district, adding that several residentshad also filed complaints against them.

The charges stem from clashes that erupted in Khabatdistrict, west of Erbil, in early July 2025 after a dispute between the Harkiand Goran tribes over agricultural land and a watercourse, before escalating whenZeravani forces, affiliated with the Peshmerga, intervened to contain theunrest, leaving several people dead, including a Peshmerga member, according tosecurity and medical sources at the time.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Natural Resources onSaturday authorized fuel imports to address gasoline shortages and curb risingprices.

Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammed Salihinstructed border crossings and inspection checkpoints to facilitate theuninterrupted entry of imported fuel tankers into the Kurdistan Region, stressing thatall shipments must comply with the ministry's approved quality controlstandards.

Recent increases in gasoline prices have led to long queuesat government-run fuel stations across the Region, where subsidized fuelremains cheaper than commercial supplies. Fuel station operators blamed reducedshipments, supply shortages, and regional tensions, while taxi drivers warnedthat higher fuel costs were increasing pressure on the transport sector andconsumers.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday congratulated US President Donald Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Barzani said that the US’s enduring lesson is that liberty requires more than power: “It requires a Constitution, institutions, federal balance, and the consent of free people."

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I extend my warm congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump and the people of the United States.America’s enduring lesson is that liberty requires more than power. It requires a Constitution, institutions, federal…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 4, 2026

He added that the “same principle remains essential for Iraq’s future,” stressing that stability must be built on constitutional commitments, federalism, and “full protection of the rights and status of the Kurdistan Region” in the Iraqi constitution.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance and Economy on Saturday denied allegations that itsdelegation requested Baghdad to delay June salary transfers, describing theclaims as unfounded and part of a broader misinformation campaign.

In a statement titled “The Rope of Lies Is Short,” the ministry statedthat recent talks in Baghdad remained within the framework of implementing aFederal Supreme Court ruling that separates salary payments from political andtechnical disputes, adding that any claims of interference in salary timingwere inaccurate.

Pointing out that revenue collection is only finalized at the end ofeach month, while trial balance reports are typically issued within the first10 days of the following month, the ministry questioned how salary delays couldbe justified under such timelines.

“We raised the issue of local revenues in a separate meeting with thefederal finance minister,” it clarified, calling for the application of federalbudget and financial management laws through the transfer of 50% of local revenuesto the federal government based on monthly trial balance reports.

The discussions also covered customs procedures and the rollout of theASYCUDA system, along with taxation issues, Kurdistan-based companies, customsexemptions, protection of local production, and quality control measures.

Read more: Iraq’s budget paralysis: How the 1/12 rule reduced state finances to salary payments

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Fridaythat Erbil's long-standing "special" ties with Iran should bestrengthened to support bilateral cooperation, and regional stability.

Paying tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Barzaninoted that Khamenei's "wise guidance in the developments witnessed by Iranand the region will remain etched in history."

The Kurdistan Region believes that "understanding, mutualrespect, and continued constructive dialogue are the best path to achievinglasting peace, stability, and security in the region," he pointed out.

امروز در آیین وداع با حضرت آیت ‌الله ‌العظمی سید علی خامنه‌ای، رهبر فقید و شهید جمهوری اسلامی ایران، در برابر پیکر مطهر ایشان ادای احترام کردم و مراتب همدردی عمیق خود و مردم اقلیم کردستان را با ملت ایران ابراز داشتم.رهنمودهای حکیمانه و نقش تاریخی ایشان در تحولات ایران و منطقه،…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 3, 2026

Earlier today, Barzani met senior Iranian officials and affirmed the Region's neutral position on regional tensions. He alsoexpressed support for negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Khamenei’s funeral ceremoniesand are expected to continue for about a week. The program includes ceremoniesin Iraq before his burial in the northeastern city of Mashhad on July 9.

Shafaq News- Erbil/ Tehran

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday told Iranian officials in Tehran that the Region will not be used as a source of threat against neighboring countries, Presidency spokesperson Dilshad Shahab said.

Speaking to several media outlets, Shahab stated that Barzani met with senior Iranian officials to discuss recent regional developments, security concerns, and efforts to prevent renewed escalation. Erbil’s position has “remained unchanged before, during, and after the war: rejecting military solutions and supporting dialogue to settle disputes.”

The Iran-US negotiation track was also discussed, with Barzani voicing the Region’s support for the process to spare the region’s peoples further suffering. According to Shahab, the president’s efforts during the past period helped preserve the Region’s stability despite the impact of the war, with the shift from confrontation to diplomacy reflecting the value of that approach.

On bilateral ties, Shahab clarified that the Kurdistan Region has consistently worked to strengthen relations with neighboring countries and uphold good-neighborly principles, while Iranian officials emphasized the importance of relations with Erbil.

Barzani arrived in Tehran earlier today at the invitation of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to attend the official farewell ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

سەرۆکی هەرێمی کوردستان بەشداری لە ڕێوڕەسمی ماڵئاواییکردن له‌ ڕابەری پێشووى ئێراندا دەکاتhttps://t.co/0WBqm8qauH pic.twitter.com/cnFDYgzRqC

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 3, 2026

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani attended theofficial funeral ceremony for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran onFriday alongside regional and international leaders.

سەرۆکی هەرێمی کوردستان بەشداری لە ڕێوڕەسمی ماڵئاواییکردن له‌ ڕابەری پێشووى ئێراندا دەکاتhttps://t.co/0WBqm8qauH pic.twitter.com/cnFDYgzRqC

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 3, 2026

Barzani, who arrived in Tehran earlier in the day at theinvitation of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, signed the officialcondolence book, offering sympathies on behalf of himself and the KurdistanRegion of Iraq. He also paid tribute to Khamenei's influence and legacy in Iranand across the Islamic world.

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi and Parliament Speaker HaibetAl-Halbousi also traveled to Tehran with several senior government officials totake part in the funeral ceremonies, which run from July 4 to 9. Khamenei waskilled in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28.

Read more: Iran opens Khamenei funeral week in Tehran

Shafaq News-Tehran

NechirvanBarzani, the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, stressed the importance of sustaineddialogue to ensure full implementation of the Iran-US deal during a meeting withIranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran on Friday.

Talks alsocovered relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Iran, regionaldevelopments, and the importance of security and stability through peacefulresolution of disputes.

It was a pleasure to see my dear friend Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament today in Tehran I commended his important role in bringing the recent Iran–U.S. deal to fruition and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement and sustained dialogue to… pic.twitter.com/DgIMUeO7j3

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 3, 2026

The meeting wasthe third high-level engagement for Barzani in Tehran on Friday, followingtalks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on expanding economiccooperation and a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchicovering the cessation of hostilities and regional developments.

Barzani arrivedin Tehran to attend the funeral ceremony of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, scheduledbetween July 4 and 9, following an official invitation from Pezeshkian.Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

Shafaq News- Vienna

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Fridayurged stronger international action against migrant smuggling, calling it ahumanitarian and security challenge that requires a coordinated globalresponse.

According to a statement, the KRG Coordinator forInternational Advocacy, Dindar Zebari, and the head of the Human Traffickingand Migrant Smuggling Section at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC), Ilias Chatzis, discussed expanding joint efforts through expertiseexchange, institutional training, and wider participation by Iraqi Kurdistan’sinstitutions in international programs on the sidelines of UN meetings inVienna.

Zebari reiterated the KRG’s commitment to workingclosely with the United Nations and international partners, stressing thatcurbing migrant smuggling depends on addressing its root causes while creatingemployment opportunities and promoting stability.

Read more: The shifting sands of hope: Iraqi migrants find new paths

Chatzis expressed UNODC's readiness to assist Baghdadand Erbil through technical expertise, institutional support, and specializedtraining to counter transnational organized crime, with both sides emphasizingcloser coordination to strengthen responses to trafficking networks and protecthuman rights.

International Organization for Migration data showthat more than 221,000 people have been affected by human trafficking, whileIraq remains both a source and destination country. Recent figures indicatetrafficking has increased in parts of the Kurdistan Region, including a neardoubling of organ trafficking cases in 2024.

Iraq's Interior Ministry dismantled 36 organized crimenetworks involved in human trafficking, labor smuggling, and organ traffickingduring the first quarter of 2026.

Read more: 2.3K lives lost: Iraq's grim toll of human trafficking

Shafaq News-Tehran

Iraqi KurdistanPresident Nechirvan Barzani stressed the importance of strengthening relationsbetween the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran during a meeting with IranianPresident Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Friday.

Expandingeconomic cooperation and building on the historical, cultural, and neighborlyties between the two sides topped the agenda of the meeting.

I am delighted to meet President @drpezeshkian in Tehran this morning.We discussed ways to further strengthen relations between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran, with particular emphasis on expanding economic cooperation, and building on the historical, cultural, and… pic.twitter.com/ubL610AI9D

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 3, 2026

The Tehranvisit also included a separate meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister AbbasAraghchi, covering the cessation of hostilities and the latest regionaldevelopments.

Barzani arrivedin Tehran in response to an official invitation from Pezeshkian to attend thefuneral ceremony of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, scheduled between July 4 and9. Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

Shafaq News-Tehran

KurdistanRegion President Nechirvan Barzani and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi,in Tehran on Friday, underscored the importance of dialogue and coordinationthat serve the security, stability, and interests of the peoples of the region.

In a meeting inTehran, both sides discussed relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, andIran, stressing the necessity of the cessation of hostilities in the region.

I am pleased to have met my friend Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Tehran.We exchanged views on regional developments and a range of issues of mutual interest, and emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in… pic.twitter.com/2FrZhm6mZa

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 3, 2026

Barzani arrivedin Tehran earlier Friday in response to an official invitation from IranianPresident Masoud Pezeshkian to attend the funeral ceremony of Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei, scheduled between July 4 and 9. Khamenei was killed in jointUS-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

Shafaq News-Erbil

KurdistanRegion President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday condemned the bombing that killednine people and injured 22 others at a cafe in central Damascus, expressingfull solidarity with the Syrian government and people.

Barzani affirmedthe Kurdistan Region's support for "everything that strengthens Syria'ssecurity and stability and preserves the safety of its citizens."

ندين بشدة العمل الإرهابي الذي استهدف المدنيين الأبرياء في دمشق يوم أمس.نتقدم بخالص التعازي وصادق المواساة إلى ذوي الضحايا، ونتمنى الشفاء العاجل للمصابين.ونؤكد تضامننا الكامل مع الحكومة السورية وشعبها، ودعمنا لكل ما يعزز أمن سوريا واستقرارها ويحفظ سلامة مواطنيها.

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 3, 2026

The blaststruck a cafe adjacent to the Palace of Justice complex on Al-Nasr Street, oneof central Damascus's busiest public gathering points, frequented daily by lawyers,court visitors, and members of the public. Authorities have not announced thecause of the explosion or identified those responsible.

Shafaq News-Tehran

KurdistanRegion President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Tehran on Friday to attendfuneral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Informationobtained by Shafaq News indicates he will hold separate talks with IranianPresident Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, andForeign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Khamenei hadserved as Iran's supreme leader, the country's highest political and religiousauthority, since 1989, before he was killed in US-Israeli strikes on hiscompound in Tehran on Feb 28.

The IranianFars News Agency said the Iraqi delegation would include President Nizar Amediand Council of Representatives Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, alongside Barzaniand a wider Kurdish delegation comprising leaders of the Kurdistan Region’s twomain parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union ofKurdistan (PUK).

Read more: Iran opens Khamenei funeral week in Tehran

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani will travel to Tehran on Friday for an official visit that includes meetings with senior Iranian officials and participation in the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Information obtained by Shafaq News showed that Barzani is expected to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iraq’s delegation to the funeral will also include President Nizar Amedi, Parliament Speaker Haibet Al-Halbousi, Barzani, and a wider Kurdish delegation including leaders from the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Iran’s Fars News earlier reported. Khamenei’s funeral will begin in Tehran and conclude with burial in Mashhad on July 9, with ceremonies also scheduled in Qom, Najaf, and Karbala.

Shafaq News-Al-Sulaymaniyah

The Patriotic Union ofKurdistan (PUK) and the New Generation Movement (Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed) signed anagreement in Al-Sulaymaniyah on Thursday to coordinate their politicalpositions in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq's parliament, outlining a series ofjoint priorities.

During the signingceremony, PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani said the agreement addresses"highly important" issues affecting people's daily lives, adding thatboth parties will work together to provide better services across the KurdistanRegion.

New Generation leaderShaswar Abdulwahid noted that the agreement "is not directed against anyparty" and extends a hand of cooperation to all political forces.

Under the agreement,the two sides pledged to coordinate their positions in the Kurdistan Parliamentand the Iraqi Council of Representatives to support political and institutionalreforms. They also agreed to jointly draft and support legislation aimed atimproving living standards, particularly in the health, education, publicservices, taxation, and fee sectors.

The agreement commitsboth parties to pursuing a range of measures in the next Kurdistan RegionalGovernment, including providing marriage loans for young people, reducingelectricity prices and other service costs, lowering taxes and fees on businessowners, creating job opportunities for university and institute graduates,establishing a dedicated employment agency, and resolving the cases ofteachers, temporary employees, and contract workers.

At the federal level,both groups agreed to align their positions in the Iraqi parliament on issuesconcerning the Kurdistan Region, including the federal budget, the Region'sfinancial entitlements, disputed territories, the Peshmerga forces, and safeguardingthe Kurdistan Region's constitutional rights within Iraq's federal system.

Meanwhile, Kurdishpolitical parties continue talks over the formation of a new Kurdistan RegionalGovernment (KRG) cabinet, which is still stalled due to disagreements since the2024 parliamentary elections. According to the official results, the KurdistanDemocratic Party (KDP) won 39 seats, while the PUK came second with 23 seatsand the New Generation Movement secured 15 seats.

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

Shafaq News- Erbil

An explosive-laden drone crashed into a mountain inthe Harir area of Erbil province, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan,without causing casualties, a local source told Shafaq News on Thursday.

The crash ignited a fire, which firefighting teamsquickly brought under control before it could spread.

Circumstances surrounding the crash and the partyresponsible for launching the drone remain unclear.

Earlier today, Karim Parwizi, a senior official in theIranian Kurdish opposition group, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran(KDPI), told Shafaq News that the party’s headquarters in the Doli Alana areaof Balisan, north of Erbil, had come under a drone attack.

Shafaq News- Erbil

A drone struck a base belonging to the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) north of Erbil on Thursday, a senior party official told Shafaq News.

Karim Pirozi, a KDPI leader, said the drone targeted one of the party's positions in Doli Alana in the Balisan area, adding that the attack caused no casualties among party members.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, a drone attack targeted Degala camp north of Erbil.