ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - At least three people were killed and over a dozen more wounded in a clash that lasted for hours in Sulaimani early Friday in an operation aimed at arresting opposition leader and cousin of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) head, Lahur Sheikh Jangi. 

Reports of an arrest warrant issued against Jangi, the current leader of the People's Front political party and a former PUK co-chair who was ousted from the party owning to an internal dispute, began to circulate on Thursday night, with a close aide of Jangi's telling The New Region that “there are forces around Sarchnar and other parts of the city [Sulaimani] but there has been no formal notification to him about an arrest warrant.”

The scenes that were to follow overnight in Sulaimani’s Sarchnar neighborhood were described by locals as reminiscent of the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), with heavy machine gun fire peppering the night sky, tanks rolling through residential areas, and chaos abounding as PUK-affiliated forces beseiged Jangi's residence in the Lalezar Hotel, facing staunch resistance from his loyalists in the building.

The PUK-affiliated Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) on Friday afternoon said they have seized full control of the Lalezar Hotel and arrested all the gunmen who confronted their forces.

The Asayish claimed that the operation was carried out based on judicial orders, and that the altercations started after the Lalezar gunmen resisted arrest and fired the first shots at the security forces.

At least three security force members were killed and 19 others were wounded in the clashes, the statement added.

Footage seen by The New Region on Friday morning showed heavy damage to civilian houses in the neighborhood where Jangi resided.

Footage submitted to The New Region shows smoke rising from opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s residence in Sulaimani as PUK-affiliated forces launched an attack on his residence early Friday pic.twitter.com/9nJHMUEiCo

— The New Region (@thenewregion) August 22, 2025

A PUK outlet later said that the party’s finance department would provide compensation for all the damage suffered by residents of the neighborhood during the conflict, though the traumatizing scenes of intense conflict and bloodshed and the inherent deleterious effects on locals' mental health may not quite be compensable.

In a video statement on Thursday night, Jangi said that he was staying at his own home and the forces “may be planning to attack.”

The New Region understands that Jangi’s wife, daughter, two sons, and other relatives had remained with him at his residence even after fire was exchanged.

The neighborhood, a popular one dotted with pleasant cafes and restaurants, gave way to lengthy exchanges of gunfire between security forces and dozens of members of Jangi's Scorpion armed group, with heavy weaponry being used to target the hotel.

For hours, the sound of gunfire continued. As sun rose, dark plumes coming out of Lalezar started filling the sky.

Eventually, Jangi’s forces were no match for the large army at their doors, and the opposition leader and a number of his relatives and close aides were arrested.

Footage of Jangi’a arrest show him being brought out and led to a car by no other than the PUK’s counterterrorism chief Wahab Halabjayi, one of the close aides of the cousin-turned-foe leader of the party leader Bafel Talabani.

Footage shows the PUK-affiliated forces arresting opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi in Sulaimani after the city saw a night of armed clashes pic.twitter.com/3oV4jHWP6A

— The New Region (@thenewregion) August 22, 2025

Sources told The New Region that Talabani had requested both Lahur and his brother Polad be transferred to his residence in Dabashan.

In a statement on Friday, Jangi’s People’s Front called on diplomatic missions and governments in Erbil and Baghdad to not remain silent about the events of Friday morning, dubbing the arrest of its leader and an elected member of parliament in such a manner "uncivilized."

At least three people were killed and over a dozen more wounded in a clash that lasted for hours in Sulaimani early Friday in an operation aimed at arresting opposition leader and cousin of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) head, Lahur Sheikh Jangi pic.twitter.com/ZeAPhu0wDE

— The New Region (@thenewregion) August 22, 2025

Reactions from the Kurdistan Region and further afield:

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani was first to address the matter early Friday, saying that the armed conflict impacts the stability of the Region, and calling on all sides to stand down and allow for legal procedures away from bloodshed.

The sentiment was echoed by the Kurdistan Region Presidency and the Iraqi government later.

The US Mission to Iraq said they are “closely monitoring” the situation in Sulaimani. “We oppose any violence that threatens public safety and stability and urge all parties to show restraint,” they said.

The UN mission to Iraq (UNAMI) called on all parties to “exercise restraint, refrain from any actions that could endanger the lives of civilians, respect human rights, and ensure a fair and impartial judicial process in line with the provisions of the Constitution.”

Similarly, UK Consulate in Erbil said they were “concerned by the loss of life in Sulaimani last night.”

“The UK urges the relevant authorities to ensure that due process is followed, including applying principles of transparent and fair justice,” the statement read.

Jangi’s arrest comes just over a week after head of the New Generation opposition movement Shalwar Abdulwahid was arrested in Sulaimani.

Abdulwahid was arrested after he was sentenced to six months in absentia under Article 431 of the Iraqi Penal Code which states: “Whoever threatens another with committing a felony against himself or his property, or against the person or property of another, or with attributing or disclosing dishonorable matters in cases other than those specified in Article 430, shall be punished by detention.”

He is facing trial for a number of other cases, but his hearings have been adjourned twice over the past ten days.