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Kirkuk
- On November 19, four Iraqi soldiers of the 31st Brigade were found slaughtered in their post on the Kirkuk-Sulaymaniyah road near the Chiman village. The military post is on the main road and only 500 meters from the first battalion’s headquarters. After losing communications for hours, they found the soldiers killed. Initial investigation revealed that the victims were killed by silencer guns and then beheaded. The incident caused a strong reaction, as it was the first time Da’esh terrorists reached north of the city. Since the Iraqi security forces took control of Kirkuk in 2017, an extensive security gap was created between them and the Peshmerga forces, resulting in more terrorist attacks. Kurdish officials repeated calls to return the Peshmerga forces to the area while the acting governor Rakan al Jabouri demanded the army’s control. On November 23, Iraqi jets struck alleged Da’esh hideouts near the Qara Hanjeer subdistrict. On November 24, a delegation of the Peshmerga forces met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani and senior officials of the Defense Ministry, discussing the security issues in the disputed territories and the deployment of the joint forces. According to a Kurdish lawmaker, the Iraqi government has finally agreed to allocate a budget for the combined forces, including salaries for the Peshmerga forces who transferred to the newly established divisions.
- A day after attacking Iranian Kurdish opposition in the Kurdistan Region, the Iranian drones struck the headquarters of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) located north of Pirde district. The air strike resulted in material damages only.
- On November 23, the press office of the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Shakhawan Abdullah, announced the formation of a committee to investigate the violations of Kirkuk airport. According to the statement, lawmakers of the Security and Defense, Transportation, and Corruption Committees will visit Kirkuk and investigate the “technical” violations against international standards, posing a threat to passengers.
- According to the Shiite leader Noori al Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister al Sudani plans to replace all the governors in all provinces, part of his cabinet’s plans. The Kurdish parties demand the removal of the acting governor al Jabouri who was imposed on the province in 2017.
Khanaqin
- On November 21, students in Khanaqin demonstrated, demanding monthly financial student aid. The demonstration included students from language, humanities, and physical colleges in Khanaqin. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has opened three colleges affiliated with the Garmian University in Khanaqin since Baghdad has marginalized the education system in the Kurdish district.
- On November 22, Da’esh terrorists attacked the main checkpoint of Khanaqin, injuring a soldier after gunfire before fleeing the area.
Tuz Khurmatu
- After preventing teachers of Kurdish schools from administrative roles in schools, the Education Ministry finally issued a statement changing the rules. The new decision will make the Kurdish teachers become principals and participate in central examinations as supervisors.
Makhmour
- According to activists at the Makhmour Camp for Refugees, Turkish drones have been hovering over the camp for days. Turkey has bombed the camp on several occasions since 2018.
Shingal (Sinjar)
- Hazim Tahsin Said, the Mir (prince) of the Yazidis in Kurdistan and the world, has called on the United Nations to intervene in the reconstruction of Sinjar. He requested a meeting with UN officials in Geneva, citing the lack of reconstruction preventing the refugees’ return. Hazim attended the UN annual peace conference in Geneva and called for pressure on Iraq to implement the Sinjar security agreement between Baghdad and Erbil.