Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Interior Ministrybegan enforcing a 40,000-dinar ($30) fine against anyone who throws waste froma vehicle onto public streets or open spaces, effective immediately.

Heman Mirani, director general of the ministry'sadministrative bureau, said the measure took effect on May 12, 2026, andapplies to both drivers and passengers. “Throwing waste from vehicles will nolonger be considered normal or acceptable,” he stated.

Shafaq News-Khanaqin

The KurdistanRegion of Iraq held ceremonies on Tuesday to honor Leyla Qasim, the FeyliKurdish activist executed by the Baath regime 52 years ago, drawing localofficials, Kurdish party representatives, and a large gathering of residents tothe center of her hometown.

Speakersrecalled Qasim's resistance against the Baath regime and her defense of Kurdishrights, saying her legacy has endured in Kurdish national memory as a symbol ofsacrifice and freedom, according to a Shafaq News correspondent.

PresidentNechirvan Barzani, in a statement, called Qasim "not only a nationalsymbol, but also a beacon of awareness and leadership for the women ofKurdistan," saying her conduct in prison and before her execution provedthat Kurdish women carry "unwavering determination" and a readinessto sacrifice for their people's freedom and dignity.

پەیامى سه‌رۆك نێچيرڤان بارزانى لە ساڵيادى شەهیدبوونی لەیلا قاسم و هاوڕێکانیداhttps://t.co/yDZFWC84uY pic.twitter.com/HULO79yzts

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) May 12, 2026

KurdistanDemocratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani wrote that Qasim and hercomrades "freely gave their lives for the freedom and dignity of theirpeople."

شەهید لەیلا قاسم و هاوڕێکانی لەپێناو ئازادی و کەرامەتی گەلەکەیان، ئازایانە گیانی خۆیان بەخت کرد و بوون بە سەرمەشق و هێمای بەرخودان بۆ هەموو ئازادیخوازانی کوردستان.لە پەنجا و دووەمین ساڵیادی لەسێدارەدان و شەهیدکردنی لەیلا قاسم و هاوڕێکانیدا سڵاو دەنێرین بۆ ڕۆحی پاکیان و ڕۆحی…

— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) May 12, 2026

About LeylaQasim

Born in Khanaqinon January 27, 1952, Qasim joined the KDP in 1973 while studying at the Collegeof Arts at the University of Baghdad, where she built a reputation forpolitical activism and underground organizational work. Baath security forcesarrested her on the night of April 24, 1974, at her Baghdad home, taking heralongside four cell members: Nariman Fuad Masti, Hassan Hama Rashid, AzadSuleiman Miran, and her fiancé Jawad Hamawandi. Weeks of physical andpsychological torture and a show trial followed. All five were executed on May12, 1974. In 2023, her personal belongings entered the Martyrs of the HomelandMuseum in Barzan.

Known as the"Bride of Kurdistan," Qasim remains one of the most prominent figuresin Kurdish national memory, commemorated each year as an icon of sacrifice andresistance.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

On Tuesday, participants at a conference attended by environmental organizations and forest police in the Kurdistan Region called for the creation of a special environmental court and tougher penalties for environmental and forest violations as heavy winter rainfall increased fears of summer wildfires.

The proposals were presented during the launch of a national environmental and forest protection strategy organized in Al-Sulaymaniyah by Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies and the Ayinda Organization for Environmental Protection following months of consultations with relevant authorities.

Sakar Sadiq, head of the Future Environment Organization, said during the conference that abundant rainfall this winter led to significant growth in trees and vegetation, increasing the likelihood of seasonal fires across the Kurdistan Region.

Recommendations presented during the conference included banning the public sale of firewood, prosecuting unauthorized tree cutting for heating and recreation, installing surveillance cameras in forests and tourist sites, and increasing staffing and funding for environmental institutions and civil society organizations. Participants also called for wider environmental education campaigns in schools, parks, and public spaces to strengthen public awareness of forest and environmental protection.

Iraq is considered among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing rising temperatures, desertification, drought, and recurring fires. Global Forest Watch recorded more than 1,680 high-confidence fire alerts across the country in 2026 so far, while a 2025 wildfire analysis by PAX found more than 120,000 hectares of land had burned across the Kurdistan Region in recent years.

A separate 2025 regional wildfire study found fire activity in the Kurdistan Region had more than doubled since 2010, with Al-Sulaymaniyah and Duhok accounting for most cumulative forest losses.

Read more: Kurdistan’s forests under threat: War, climate, and efforts to rebuild

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Hundreds gathered in northern Iraq’s Al-Sulaymaniyah on Tuesday at a ceremony honoring support for “West Kurdistan,” where a message from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi praised backing from Iraqi Kurdistan during recent attacks on Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria.

The event, organized by the West Kurdistan Representation Office, drew residents of the Kurdistan Region alongside Kurdish political parties and activists. Participants observed a minute of silence for Kurdish fighters killed during the conflict and placed flowers before portraits of victims from “West Kurdistan,” a term used by Kurdish groups to describe Kurdish-majority areas in northeastern Syria.

In a message read during the ceremony, Abdi said support from the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish unity strengthened the resistance and helped stop the war, stressing that preserving the January 18 ceasefire required continued political and public backing.

Kurdish regions were passing through a “sensitive phase” marked by political and security changes, he warned, calling for greater Kurdish unity.

Shoresh Amin, a Kurdish activist attending the ceremony, told Shafaq News that regional developments directly affect Kurdistan and that demonstrations supporting West Kurdistan highlighted the importance of Kurdish solidarity. Support from the Region and international actors gave “great meaning” to the resistance, a representative of the family of slain Kurdish fighter Ahmed Himen added.

The ceremony also included a message from the Kurdish Red Crescent in northeastern Syria thanking residents and organizations in the Kurdistan Region for humanitarian aid provided during the conflict before concluding with musical performances and poetry readings.

Earlier this year, the Syrian government and the SDF reached a ceasefire agreement outlining a gradual integration of military and administrative structures between both sides. The deal also provides for the incorporation of Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) institutions into Syrian state structures, the retention of civil employees, the settlement of civil and educational rights for the Kurdish community, and guarantees for the return of displaced residents to their hometowns.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)on Tuesday expected a delay in forming Iraq’s next government, warning that foreigninterventions could disrupt Parliament’s vote on Prime Minister-designate Alial-Zaidi’s cabinet.

Shakhawan Abdullah, head of theKDP’s bloc, which holds 26 seats in Iraq’s 329-member Parliament, toldreporters that negotiations over the distribution of ministries among Iraq’sShiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces had largely been completed, butsome obstacles still threatened to delay the confidence vote.

“Regional and internationalinterventions are a reality that cannot be ignored and have existed since2003,” he explained, adding that such involvement had played a role in theformation of successive governments after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

He pointed to disagreementssurrounding the participation of certain factions in the incoming cabinet, inan apparent reference to reported US opposition to the inclusion of Iran-linkedarmed groups in the government.

Multiple diplomatic sourcespreviously told Shafaq News that US officials had warned Iraqi leaders againstappointing commanders tied to these factions, cautioning that such a move couldexpose Iraq to sanctions targeting state institutions, including oil revenues.

Read more: Nouri Al-Maliki’s return rekindles Iraq’s divisions as Iran and the US pull apart

Failure to secure a politicalagreement by Tuesday night, Abdullah warned, could delay the parliamentaryconfidence session “for several days.”

Last week, Al-Zaidi submitted a14-point ministerial program to Parliament Speaker Haibet Al-Halbousi ahead ofa session expected in the coming days to vote on the new cabinet. Under Article76 of Iraq’s constitution, the prime minister-designate has 30 days from hisApril 27 nomination to form a government and secure parliamentary approval.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easynomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President NechirvanBarzani on Tuesday commemorated Kurdish activist Leyla Qasim and hercompanions, executed 52 years ago under Iraq’s former Baath regime, describingher as a symbol of “freedom and dignity.”

In a statement, Barzani highlightedQasim’s role as “a beacon of awareness and leadership” for Kurdish women. He saidQasim’s journey —from her hometown of Khanaqin to the University of Baghdad andeventually the prisons of the Baath regime— remains deeply rooted in Kurdishcollective memory “as a lesson in self-sacrifice, steadfastness, andpatriotism.”

Qasim, a Feyli Kurdish politicalactivist born in Khanaqin in 1952, joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)in the early 1970s and began her university studies in sociology at theUniversity of Baghdad in 1971. Iraqi authorities arrested her on April 29,1974, before executing her weeks later alongside several companions.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Iraq’s Dukan Dam has risen to within 1.8 meters of full capacity after months of heavy rainfall and snowfall boosted water reserves across the Kurdistan Region, Dukan Dam Director Kochar Jamal told Shafaq News on Monday, marking one of the strongest recoveries in reservoir levels in the country.

Jamal said water levels are rising daily and could reach full capacity later this year if current inflow rates continue, adding that current levels were comparable to those recorded in 2003 and 2016 after years of severe water shortages across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

Built in 1959 on the Lesser Zab River, Dukan Dam is one of Iraq’s oldest and most strategically important dams. The 116-meter-high concrete arch dam has a storage capacity of about 6.8 billion cubic meters of water and plays a major role in hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control, and water management in northern Iraq. Rahman Khani, Director General of Dams and Reservoirs at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, previously estimated that stored water at Dukan Dam had exceeded 5.7 billion cubic meters, with the reservoir operating at about 87% capacity.

Iraq has faced worsening water shortages in recent years due to declining rainfall, rising temperatures, and reduced river flows from neighboring countries, forcing authorities to scale back agricultural plans and repeatedly warn of shrinking strategic water reserves. However, multiple waves of rainfall and snowfall this year revived rivers, valleys, and natural springs across the Kurdistan Region, sharply increasing inflows into reservoirs after several years of declining water levels.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Far from tourist routes and untouched by commercial development, the Zewa waterfall flows quietly through the mountainous landscape of the Adhra area near Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

Shafaq News visited the site on Sunday, documenting the first published photos of the waterfall cutting through the mountain slope alongside green vegetation and horses roaming the surrounding area.

Located in the Khoshnaw Valley on the outskirts of Erbil province, the cascade lies around an hour and a half from the center of the Kurdish capital, overlooking the valley below.

Erbil province hosts several waterfalls and mountain resorts, including the well-known Gali Ali Beg waterfall, one of the area’s most visited natural landmarks, located along the historic Hamilton Road.

Read more: Visit Kurdistan: Where rivers roar at Gali Ali Beg

Shafaq News-Al-Sulaymaniyah

Representatives ofcivil society organizations, writers, academics, political and religiousfigures in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq signed a political memorandum on Sundaycalling for an urgent resolution to the Kurdish Parliament crisis or the formaltermination of the current legislative term.

Spokesperson for theinitiative Sarwar Abdulrahman said at a press conference that more than 18months had passed since the sixth parliamentary elections without any effectivesessions being held apart from lawmakers taking the constitutional oath and securingsalaries and privileges.

“The memorandumreflects growing public frustration over political tensions and disputes thathave led to the suspension of an important institution such as the parliament,”he noted, calling on political blocs to clearly state their positions and takeserious steps to resolve the crisis. “What is happening in the Kurdistan Regionreflects a high level of irresponsibility toward constitutional and politicalobligations.”

The KurdistanParliament elections were held on October 20, 2024, after being postponed fourtimes since 2022 due to political disputes. About 1,091 candidates competed for100 seats, including five quota seats for minority communities and 30 seatsreserved for women.

Read more: Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections: A new political landscape emerges

Shafaq News- Erbil

Between three and four missiles struck a camp hostingIranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Alana Valley area of Khalifandistrict, northeast of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, a local sourcetold Shafaq News on Sunday.

No immediate information was available regardingcasualties or material damage, and no group has claimed responsibility for thestrike.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) documented 809drone and missile attacks against the Kurdistan Region between February 20 andApril 20, 2026, leaving 20 people dead and 123 injured amid the escalationinvolving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

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

Shafaq News- Erbil/ Baghdad

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Sunday it transferred 50.29 billion Iraqi dinars ($38.4 million) to Baghdad under a revenue-sharing mechanism tied to federal salary payments for public employees in the Kurdistan Region.

The payment comes amid ongoing negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad over salaries, budget allocations, and non-oil revenues, as Iraq’s political blocs continue talks over the formation of Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi’s new government. Last month, a high-level Kurdish delegation visited Baghdad to discuss mechanisms for funding Kurdistan Region salaries for 2026 under the current financial framework.

Under a mechanism adopted by Iraq’s Council of Ministers on Aug. 26, 2025, federal salary transfers to the Kurdistan Region were linked to Erbil’s commitment to transfer 120 billion dinars per month in non-oil revenues to Baghdad, according to previous statements by the Iraqi Finance Ministry and the KRG.

Still, KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani said in January that Baghdad had transferred only about 41% of the Region’s financial entitlements over the previous three years. The KRG also stated that Baghdad transferred 24.3 trillion dinars ($18.7 billion) to the Region between 2023 and 2025 out of allocations totaling 58.3 trillion dinars ($44.8 billion), while Kurdish officials continue to demand compensation for months of delayed salary payments and suspended budget transfers.

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

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Nestled within the mountainous landscape of Ranyain the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Ganawi Qorqo Lake —meaning “Circular Lake” inKurdish— has become one of Iraq’s most unusual natural landmarks due to theperiodic transformation of its waters into a dark purple color.

The lake has a circular shape with a diameter ofaround 370 meters and a depth reaching 27 meters. Local accounts and geologicalestimates suggest it formed more than 5,000 years ago through naturalenvironmental processes without human intervention.

One of its most notable features is thestability of its water level throughout the year despite seasonal and climatechanges. Its waters emit a strong sulfuric odor, particularly when exposed tosunlight.

Ganawi Qorqo is also known for changing colorsbetween blue, pink, and purple depending on temperature and environmentalconditions, though dark purple remains the most dominant shade. The phenomenonis believed to be linked to high salinity levels, the presence of specificalgae and bacteria, sulfur compounds, and the activity of microorganisms thatbecome more active during summer heat.

The site is home to several rare and endangered species, including fish,shrimp, and turtles not commonly found in other Iraqi lakes, giving the siteenvironmental significance in addition to its tourism appeal.

Additionally,residents of Ranya and nearby areas have visited the spot for decades seekingpotential therapeutic benefits from its waters and mineral-rich sand beneaththe surface, which many believe may help treat skin conditions, allergies, anditching. Some visitors swim in the water, while others collect water forpersonal use.

Read more: Discover Iraq: Al-Sulaymaniyah, a haven for thinkers, artists, and activists

Shafaq News- Vienna

Austria’s capital, Vienna, hosted a ceremony on Saturdaymarking 50 years since the country accepted its first group of Kurdish refugeesfrom Iraq under the slogan Long Live Austria.

The event opened with a short documentary recounting thearrival of the first group of 96 Kurdish refugees at Vienna InternationalAirport on March 31, 1976, following the collapse of the Kurdish uprising inIraq after the 1975 Algiers Agreement between Iraq and Iran.

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who played a keyrole in facilitating the refugees’ admission and support, addressed the eventalongside Safeen Dizayee, head of the Department of Foreign Relations in theKurdistan Regional Government, who expressed appreciation to the Austriangovernment and people for their humanitarian support and assistance provided toKurdish students and families over the years.

Shafaq News- Istanbul

Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan discussed on Saturday the rising friction between the US andIran and concerns over possible regional spillover during a meeting inIstanbul.

Both sides underlined the need to ease tensions and resolve disputesthrough dialogue.

Barzani stressed the Kurdistan Region’s interest in expandingcooperation with Ankara and conveyed appreciation for Turkiye’s role inregional stability. He also reaffirmed Ankara’s push to advance its “Türkiyewithout Terrorism” policy, aimed at strengthening domestic security andlimiting cross-border threats.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani Meets President of TürkiyePrime Minister Masrour Barzani today met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul during his official visit to the Republic of Türkiye.During the meeting, which was attended by Türkiye’s… pic.twitter.com/pqjkhsDfxB

— Kurdistan Regional Government (@Kurdistan) May 9, 2026

Erdogan, in turn, reiterated Turkiye’s intention to strengthencoordination with both Baghdad and Erbil, noting that stability in Iraq remainsclosely linked to broader regional security.

The discussions also covered political negotiations on forming thecountry’s next government. Both sides expressed hope that the next cabinet willsupport stability, ensure representation of all Iraqi components, and addressunresolved issues between Baghdad and Erbil within the constitutionalframework.

Earlier today, Barzani arrived in Istanbul. He is expected to hold talkswith Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan along with other senior officials.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Tenants in the Kurdistan Region are striving to keep up withrising rents and living costs as delayed salary payments and soaring pricesdeepen pressure on families, the head of the Kurdistan Region Tenants Uniontold Shafaq News on Saturday.

Barham Qardaghi said many people are also struggling tocover basic living expenses, including electricity, water, and other dailycosts, adding that some tenants have fallen behind on payments for up to threemonths.

Buyers are often required to pay large upfront sums beforereceiving housing units, while the remaining installments generate additionalprofits for investors after handover. Qardaghi described the pricing as unfairtoward tenants and low-income citizens. “Construction costs are far lower thanmarket prices, estimating that homes can be built for less than $200 per squaremeter, with organized residences costing between $20,000 and $30,000 toconstruct, yet being sold inside residential compounds for as much as $150,000to $170,000.”

Read more: Soaring real estate prices deepen Iraq's housing crisis

According to Qardaghi, the growing number of tenantsreflects the absence of effective government housing policies, and despite theissuance of more than 253 investment licenses for large residential projects,most low-income families cannot afford the units.

Iraq’s latest population census recorded more than 200,000tenants across the Kurdistan Region, though union estimates suggest the actualfigure may be even higher. Union figures, however, showed 27% of tenants in theKurdistan Region are based in Erbil, 18% in Duhok, and 19.5% inAl-Sulaymaniyah, with the remaining percentages distributed across other areas.

Read more: Homeownership in Iraq: A far-fetched dream

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

The government program of Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidioverlooked key constitutional provisions on disputed territories and Kurdishrights, a Kurdish official told Shafaq News on Saturday.

Fahmi Burhan, head of the General Board for Kurdistani Areas Outside theRegion, noted that the absence of Article 140 from the program reflects broaderpolitical gaps, arguing that Kurdish political divisions contributed to theissue.

Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution sets out a process to resolve thestatus of disputed territories through normalization, a census, and areferendum. The provision remains largely unimplemented for years despiterepeated political calls for resolution.

“Kurdish political forces did not oppose the nomination of al-Zaidi and,in some cases, were quick to extend congratulatory messages,” Burhan added,framing their moves as significant indicators of the absence of Kurdishpriorities.

He further warned that the government platform will effectively shaperelations between Baghdad and Erbil over the coming four years, urging Kurdishparties to unify their positions on territorial disputes and constitutionalrights.

Al-Zaidi submitted a 14-point government program to Parliament SpeakerHaibet al-Halbousi on May 7 ahead of a planned parliamentary confidence votenext week.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Two suspects were arrested for allegedly stopping a tourist bus andharassing passengers, Kurdish security forces (Asayish) reported on Saturday.

According to a statement, a complaint was filed on Friday after a group of young men onmotorcycles blocked the bus in Kalar district in Garmian, part ofAl-Sulaymaniyah province. Initial findings suggested the incident may have beendriven by a dispute or provocation, while authorities maintained that theactions constitute a violation under Article 495 of the Iraqi Penal Code.

Shafaq News- Duhok

Tourism activity in Duhok has begun recovering after months of regional tensions and economic uncertainty, as heavy spring rains transformed the mountainous province into a destination for visitors from central and southern Iraq.

Ihsan Sheikh Issa, head of Duhok’s Restaurants and Hotels Association, noted to Shafaq News that tourist arrivals have increased following the end of primary and intermediate school exams in central and southern provinces, with organized tour groups reaching the city over recent days.

Hotel occupancy in Duhok has climbed to around 50%, he added, expecting larger tourist flows in the coming days as conditions stabilize further.

Sheikh Issa attributed the earlier slowdown to regional tensions linked to the US-Iran war, alongside school schedules and economic pressures that forced many Iraqi families to postpone travel plans.

Visitors pointed to the unusually green landscape following a strong rainy season. Tourist Hala Abbas told Shafaq News that Duhok’s cooler weather and natural scenery sharply contrast with Baghdad’s climate, encouraging more families to head north during May.

Duhok traditionally draws thousands of domestic tourists during spring holidays, with families gathering in natural areas for picnics, local Kurdish cuisine, and cultural activities.

Shafaq News- Erbil

A handicrafts bazaar featuring local artisans, artists, and small business owners opened in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, on Thursday, attracting families and young visitors interested in locally made products and artwork.

The event, lasting for several days, includes sections displaying homemade food, sweets, handmade accessories, paintings, children’s toys, and other locally produced items aimed at supporting emerging businesses and encouraging young talent, Shafaq News correspondent reported.

Israa Al-Habib, the organizer of the bazaar, told Shafaq News that the idea behind the event was to create a space that brings together people with artistic talents and handmade businesses in one place. “It is among the first handicrafts bazaars to be held in Erbil since the war began,” she added, noting that such activities had stopped completely during the previous period.

“We are now seeing a gradual return of activity to bazaars in general.”

Al-Habib clarified that the bazaar is not limited to commercial activity, but also aims to support women and young people working on small-scale projects, encourage local production, and provide entertainment for families.

One of the participants, Painter Safwan Al-Akr, noted that taking part in such events gives artists a chance to interact directly with the public and present their work outside traditional gallery spaces, emphasizing that the bazaar had received strong interest from visitors, “particularly for paintings and handmade artwork, reflecting growing interest in local art and creative projects.”

Shafaq News- Duhok

Rwanga Foundation on Friday organized a youth camping program in Duhok province aimed at promoting coexistence, environmental awareness, and youth development.

The two-day camp was held in the Kani Tuzi area of Dinarta subdistrict in Akr district, according to a statement. Around 150 young participants from different religious and ethnic communities —including Muslims, Christians, and Yazidis— took part alongside teachers, scouting and camping experts, representatives of youth and women’s organizations, journalists, and civil society figures.

The foundation indicated that the initiative focused on strengthening social cohesion, encouraging teamwork, developing individual responsibility, and raising awareness about preserving Kurdistan’s natural environment.

Rwanga, meaning "vision", is a non-governmental organization focused on expanding access to education, delivering community services, and strengthening local capacities. Founded in 2013, it has reached more than three million people through humanitarian, educational, and community-development programs. Headquartered in Erbil, Rwanga operates across Iraq through four main sectors: education, youth, environment, and vulnerable groups.

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

Despite years of US-backed restructuring efforts, the Peshmerga remain divided between forces loyal to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), with genuine unification still unrealized, former Peshmerga Ministry Secretary-General Jabar Yawar said Wednesday.

The Peshmerga have long been split between forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), despite years of US-backed efforts to unify the command structure under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Yawar indicated that true unification cannot be imposed through external pressure, but must come from an internal political conviction that party-controlled forces are no longer necessary.

He warned that maintaining partisan armed units preserves the risk of internal conflict, adding that real reform requires changing military doctrine so fighters serve the Kurdistan Region rather than political parties. “What has been achieved so far is organizational unification only,” Yawar told Shafaq News, noting that integration has yet to reach the level of a unified military identity.

On military assistance, Yawar pointed to Article 121 of Iraq’s constitution, which allows the Kurdistan Region to request its share of arms as part of Iraq’s broader defense system. He added that disputes over US weapons deliveries could be resolved through direct coordination between Erbil and Baghdad.

Yawar also cautioned against long-term dependence on Washington, urging stronger coordination with Iraq’s federal government instead of relying on external pressure or initiatives. US military aid to the Peshmerga began in 2016 under an agreement with the Pentagon during the war against ISIS, he noted, adding that support reached around $450 million at a time when Baghdad had suspended budget transfers to the Kurdistan Region.

He indicated that the situation has since changed with the resumption of salary payments by the federal government, arguing that recent reductions in US support likely reflect Washington’s broader policy of scaling back foreign assistance rather than dissatisfaction over stalled unification efforts.

Yawar concluded that lasting reform requires a unified internal decision to build a professional military force representing all citizens of the Kurdistan Region rather than partisan interests.

Shafaq News- Duhok

Authorities in Duhok have received a rare ancient statuedating back thousands of years after a resident discovered it when heavyrainfall exposed it near the border with Turkiye, a Kurdish official toldShafaq News on Friday.

The head of Antiquities and Heritage Directorate, BekasBrefkany, said that preliminary assessments indicate that the statue dates backseveral millennia and may have been used for religious or ritual purposesduring that period, adding that the artifact will undergo detailed scientificexamination to determine its exact age and origin.

Iraq recovered more than 40,000 artifacts in 2024 and 2025through domestic seizures and international repatriation efforts, the Ministryof Antiquities said. Under Iraq’s Antiquities Law No. 55 of 2002, individualswho fail to hand over discovered artifacts within 30 days face prison terms ofup to 10 years, along with fines equal to twice the estimated value of theitems. The law also sets penalties of up to 15 years in prison for the theft ofantiquities and heritage property.

Shafaq News- Geneva

Iran’s repeated strikes oncamps hosting Iranian Kurdish refugees and opposition groups in the KurdistanRegion of Iraq (KRI) are causing severe psychological and social harm tochildren, the Geneva-based Hana Human Rights Organization warned on Thursday.

In a new report, theorganization said many children suffer from chronic anxiety, insomnia, fear ofloud noises, and declining concentration and learning abilities amid limitedaccess to mental health support. It cautioned that continued shelling andcross-border attacks are normalizing violence among children, with explosionsand drones increasingly becoming part of daily life.

Hana Human Rights Organization warns of the critical situation and widespread psychological trauma inflicted on children living in refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following continuous missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hana considers these… pic.twitter.com/WQh4bGsF9q

— Hana Human Rights (@hana_hr_eng) May 7, 2026

The attacks have alsotriggered repeated displacement across the Kurdistan Region, disrupting accessto education, healthcare, and stability. Many camps, Hana noted, still lack theinfrastructure and essential services needed to address worsening humanitarianand psychological conditions.

Hana urged humanitarianagencies and the international community to provide urgent psychological andprotection assistance for affected children, stressing the need to respectIraq’s sovereignty and halt attacks affecting civilians.

According to the KurdistanRegional Government (KRG), the KRI recorded 809 drone and missile incidentsbetween February 28 and April 20, 2026, leaving 20 people dead and 123 injured.

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

Shafaq News- Kirkuk

The Kurdistan Regional Government supports Kirkuk’sadministration to improve service delivery and economic conditions, KurdishDeputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on Thursday during a meeting withGovernor Mohammed Samaan Agha in Kirkuk.

Shafaq News correspondent reported that both sides discussedpublic services, the province’s needs, and coordination between Baghdad andErbil to support key projects, noting the importance of maintaining securityand stability in Kirkuk, reinforcing peaceful coexistence among its diversecommunities.

On April 16, Kirkuk’s provincial council voted to appointMohammed Samman as governor under a power-sharing arrangement, replacing RebwarTaha as part of a rotation agreement among political parties. The session wasattended by several political blocs, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)boycotted the vote and rejected its outcome.

Read more: Kirkuk installs its first Turkmen Governor in two decades, but not everyone accepts it

Shafaq News- Erbil

The number of thalassemia patients in the Kurdistan Regionhas risen to 2,400 after 30 new cases were recorded in 2026, the Kurdish HealthMinister Saman Barzanji stated on Thursday, adding that the figure includes 300displaced people and refugees residing in the Region.

In a statement on World Thalassemia Day, Barzanji said theKurdistan Regional Government had sent 140 patients abroad for bone marrowtransplant procedures at a total cost of 14 billion Iraqi dinars (about $10.7million).

“Most blood donations collected in hospitals are allocatedto cover the needs of thalassemia patients, who require regular bloodtransfusions,” he explained, addressing shortages of cancer medication.

The minister stressed that the crisis resulted from the lackof a health sector allocation in Iraq’s 2026 federal budget, as well asregional tensions in the Middle East that disrupted trade movement across theIraq-Iran border and delayed medical shipments. “The shortages affected health centers across Iraq,” hesaid, expressing optimism that the situation has started to improve after newbatches of medicines arrived at medical warehouses, while additional shipmentsremain en route for delivery. 

On February 4, Barzanji pointed out that cancer rates in the Region have remained relatively stable, with more than 10,000 new cases recorded annually. He added that some advanced diagnostic tests are available free of charge, outlining ongoing efforts to develop an electronic cancer registry to improve data accuracy and patient follow-up.