Lahur Talabani

2003 – Operation Viking Hammer

In 2003, while director of the CTG, Talabani played a leading role in Operation Viking Hammer against the Ansar al-Islam terrorist organization, recognized as a major threat to Kurdistan's national security. The operation's success led to the permanent expulsion of Ansar al-Islam from the Kurdistan Region.^[7]

2017 – Leadership battle in the PUK

In 2017, after the founder and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani, died, a struggle for the leadership of the party ignited between Sheikh Lahur and Jalal's son Bafel Talabani. At the PUK's fourth congress in December 2019, Sheikh Lahur received the most votes for the General Leadership Council, and in a compromise, he and Bafel were proclaimed co-presidents.^[8]

In July 2021, Bafel Talabani accused Sheikh Lahur of poisoning him. Sheikh Lahur rejected the claims and called for a resolution of their leadership dispute within the leadership council of the PUK.^[9] Instead, Bafel shut down a media outlet close to Sheikh Lahur and ousted several important commanders from the counter-terrorism and intelligence units of the PUK, who were seen as affiliates of his opponent. Shortly after, Bafel was declared the sole leader of the party. In November, Sheikh Lahur was expelled from the PUK along with some others and Bafel took full control of the party's finances. Sheikh Lahur filed a lawsuit against the expulsion.

In February 2023, a court in Erbil ruled that the ouster of Sheikh Lahur from the co-presidency contradicted PUK's internal regulations and reinstated him. However, a day later on February 21 the judicial authority for Iraqi elections in Baghdad declared Bafel Talabani the sole leader of the PUK.^[8]

2024 – Founding the People's Front

After his ousting from the PUK, Sheikh Lahur proceeded to work on founding his own party, the People's Front,^[6] with his new party receiving its license from the interior ministry on 17 January 2024.^[10] Several former members of Sheikh Lahur's wing of the PUK also joined him in the People's Front.^[6]

2025 – Sulaymaniyah clashes

On 22 August 2025, security forces in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq carried out an overnight operation in Sulaymaniyah to arrest Sheikh Lahur, then leader of the opposition People’s Front party. The operation followed an arrest warrant being issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which relates to premeditated murder.^[11]

At around 4:10 a.m. local time, armed clashes broke out between Sheikh Lahur’s supporters and security personnel at the Lalezar Hotel, where he was staying, with the fighting lasting several hours before Sheikh Lahur surrendered. His brother, Polad (also Bolad) Sheikh Jangi, was injured in the leg during the clashes and was also taken into custody.^[11] According to officials, the clashes resulted in the deaths of three members of the security forces and injuries to at least 19 others. Local media reported that among those killed were Diyar Sardar Hakim, a Peshmerga commando, and Ari Sheikh Suad Talabani of the Counter-Terrorism Group.^[12][13]

Following the incident, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir called for restraint, urging all parties to avoid further escalation in order to preserve stability in the region.^[11]

Present-day

Sheikh Lahur is a staunch ally of the United States and the West, and continues to be an influential and crucial figure in the security and political concerns of both the Middle East and the wider region. In addition to having strong relations with key figures in Iraq, Sheikh Lahur also maintains good relations with other prominent Arab leaders and influential Western and Middle Eastern states. With the support of the US 10th Special Forces Group and the Central Intelligence Agency, he continues to play an integral role in the fight against terrorism.^[14]