Tensions Erupt in Erbil as Herki Tribe Confronts Security Forces Over Arrest Attempt

An intense confrontation broke out on the outskirts of Erbil on Tuesday after a standoff between Kurdish security forces and members of the influential Herki tribe spiraled into deadly violence. The clash erupted in the town of Khabat when authorities attempted to detain prominent tribal leader Khurshid Herki over an escalating land dispute.

The situation quickly deteriorated as dozens of Herki tribesmen gathered around their leader’s residence to prevent his arrest. What began as a standoff swiftly turned into an armed confrontation, leaving two people dead and at least 11 others injured from both sides, according to local reports.

The conflict traces back to a land dispute between the Zeravani and Herki tribes, a feud that intensified after Khurshid Herki was accused of issuing threats against the rival group. Security forces, including Peshmerga units, moved in to detain him, a step that triggered widespread resistance from the tribe.

During the height of the tension, Khurshid Herki reportedly issued a grave warning, threatening to attack the Kar and Lanaz oil refineries if security forces refused to pull back. “We swear, we swear, within two hours, if the Barzani forces do not withdraw, we will blow up the refinery,” Herki declared—an alarming statement that raised fears of significant damage to the Kurdistan Region’s vital energy infrastructure.

The Kar and Lanaz facilities are among the region’s major refineries, and any disruption could have severe economic repercussions. Local authorities have yet to disclose whether negotiations are underway, but the situation has underscored long-standing tensions between tribal influence and state authority in the Kurdistan Region.