ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Aras Sheikh Jangi, brother of jailed People's Front (Baray Gal) leader Lahur Talabany told Rudaw on Saturday that more than 120 drones, 150 armored vehicles, and nine tanks were used by Sulaimani security forces in the dramatic Friday attack to arrest the party's leader.
In the early hours of Friday, clashes erupted between the security forces and Talabany's armed men after the opposition leader refused to surrender. Three members of security forces were killed, and 19 others were injured, according to local security forces. Rudaw has learned that one of the loyalists of Talabany was also killed.
Talabany, two of his brothers, and an unconfirmed number of others were arrested. The charges against him are related to criminal conspiracy under article 56 of the Iraqi penal code which was the original cause of arrest. Details of a second murder-related charge emerged after his arrest.
Jangi claimed that the number of casualties is higher than what has been reported and announced.
"The number of the casualties is higher than what is being said. Some of the fighters [men loyal to Talabany] were hit by drones and burned," he claimed.
Jangi added after four hours of deadly clashes, Talabany decided to surrender to the security forces "to avoid more bloodshed" after he contacted a security official.
"He wanted to avoid more bloodshed and more deaths, so he contacted a security official and then he surrendered," he said.
Jangi, who is the eldest brother of Talabany, added the jailed leader's wife and children were not home during the skirmish.
He detailed that Talabany is in good health, and his brother Polad Talabany has been transferred to prison after receiving treatments for minor injuries he sustained during the Friday clashes.
Tensions have been high between cousins Bafel Talabani and Lahur Talabany since 2021 when Bafel forced him out of the PUK leadership. Talabany went on to form his own party, Baray Gal, which stands in opposition to the PUK and currently holds two seats in the Kurdistan Parliament.
Talabany's brother and his political party wants his case to be heard by a court in Baghdad because they doubt the impartiality of those in the Kurdistan Region.
"I think it is better for the case to be transferred to Baghdad, where we want him to be tried," Jangi said, adding they are currently on the line with British and US officials on the matter at hand.
Shadman Mala Hassan, a high-ranking member of Baray Gal, echoed Jangi's sentiment.
“The courts follow orders from leaders of political parties,” Hassan told Rudaw.
