One Killed, More Than Ten Injured as Security Forces Clash with Protesters Near Erbil

PUKMEDIA

Security forces in their Hummers on their way to confront the demonstrators near the Lajan village, Erbil, , 29 November 2025.

One person was killed and more than ten others were injured on Saturday after security forces clashed with protesters in the village of Lajan, located on the Erbil–Gwer road.

According to information available to PUKMEDIA, residents of Lajan gathered on Sunday afternoon in front of the Lanaz Oil Refinery to demonstrate. Security forces responded by opening fire, resulting in the death of a young man and injuries to more than ten others.

A PUKMEDIA correspondent reported that confrontations between protesters and security forces were ongoing at the time of reporting, and that several protesters had been detained.

Demonstrators are calling for improved public services and the fulfilment of promises to provide employment opportunities for local unemployed youth. They accuse the Lanaz Company, owned by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), of exploiting the area’s oil resources without offering any benefit to the local community, aside from the pollution caused by black smoke emitted from the refinery. Security forces affiliated with the KDP reportedly confronted the protesters with weapons and opened fire.



PUKMEDIA