ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least four members of the Iraqi army were injured in an altercation with a group of armed men, believed to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in Shingal district on Tuesday, according to lawmaker Sherwan Dubardani. The Kurdish parliamentarian, who represents the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Nineveh, told Rudaw that the clashes occurred after the army pursued a stolen vehicle. A group of armed men, linked to the Shingal Resistance Units (YBS), an offshoot of the PKK, attacked the army in an attempt to defend the individual accused of stealing the vehicle, before fleeing the scene. Dubardani also stated that the person accused of stealing the vehicle has been arrested. Shingal is home to several armed groups, including those affiliated with the PKK, the Iraqi government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The ongoing security issues and lack of basic services have prevented many displaced people from returning to their homes. Luqman Sultan, head of Shingal Hospital, told Rudaw that five members of the Iraqi army were injured in the incident.
