ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The wife of arrested Kurdish opposition figure Lahur Talabany claimed on Sunday that Sulaimani security forces deployed “more than 100 drones” during a dramatic raid on their home, describing the operation as an attempt to “destroy” their residence. Her comments follow Talabany’s arrest on Friday, amid deadly clashes in Sulaimani, and as he faces serious charges including conspiracy and premeditated murder.
In a phone interview with Rudaw’s Arez Khalid, Gasha Hama Chawshin said she has spoken to her husband only once since his arrest. “I have only contacted him once on the night of his arrest,” she said, adding, “He himself told me that his condition is good.”
Recalling the raid, she said, “When the forces entered, they told Lahur to get down on his knees, but he refused. They even cursed at him, but he held his head high.”
Lahur Talabany, head of the opposition People’s Front (Baray Gal) party and former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), was detained following a violent standoff between his armed loyalists and local security personnel.
According to local security sources, the clashes resulted in the deaths of three security officers and injuries to 19 others. Rudaw further learned that one of Talabany’s loyalists was also reported killed.
Talabany was arrested along with two of his brothers and an unspecified number of others. Initially charged under Article 56 of the Iraqi Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, he now reportedly faces additional charges, including premeditated murder.
Chawshin alleged that the scale of the raid went far beyond standard procedure. “More than 100 drones were used,” she claimed, adding, “If that extensive attack wasn’t meant to destroy our house, then it served no other purpose.”
In a separate interview with Rudaw on Saturday, Talabany’s elder brother, Aras Talabany, claimed that the operation involved “over 120 drones, 150 armored vehicles, and nine tanks.” He also disputed the official casualty figures, alleging the true toll was higher.
The raid additionally caused extensive damage to the neighborhood surrounding Talabany’s residence. Kurdish businessman Omar Hama Faraj, developer of the $25 million Khor (Sun) resort in Sulaimani, said he suffered approximately $3 million in damages due to the clashes.
PUK leader Bafel Talabani has since pledged compensation for affected families and properties, forming a committee to assess and reimburse damages.
Chawshin claimed that threats against her family had been ongoing for weeks prior to the raid. “Since July 8th, we had been receiving so many threats that it became exhausting,” she said. “Sometimes we would joke with the children, saying maybe this time they’ll come and it will all be over.”
She also accused PUK leader Talabani of “circling in front of our house with his car,” she said, describing the emotional toll on her daughter whom Chawshin said was shocked after seeing images of their damaged home. “Is that my room they did this to?” the girl reportedly asked.
Chawshin added that security forces also searched her father’s home, seizing personal belongings. “My mother passed away ten years ago, and we had kept her bedroom untouched as we couldn’t bring ourselves to touch any of her belongings,” she said, claiming that “security forces took them [her mother’s belongings with them.”
The arrest comes amid deepening tensions between Bafel and Lahur, who are cousins and former co-leaders of the PUK. Their relationship deteriorated in 2021 when Bafel ousted Lahur from the party’s leadership. Lahur later founded Baray Gal, which currently holds two seats in the Kurdistan Region’s legislature.
Following the arrest, both Baray Gal and Talabany’s family accused the PUK leadership of using the courts and security forces in Sulaimani to suppress Lahur and the party he leads.
