Erbil police arrested a prominent tribal figure early Sunday morning. Security forces detained Khurshid Harki following serious confrontations last year. Law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest through an official public statement.
They booked the tribal leader on several severe criminal charges. The specific accusations include murder, property destruction, and widespread vandalism.
Additionally, security forces arrested his brother, Haider Harki, during the same operation. The suspects face charges for martyring a Peshmerga soldier and a civilian. They also allegedly burned critical military equipment.
Consequently, authorities accuse the men of inciting people against established law. They disrupted public stability and actively obstructed vital government development projects. The suspects also threatened to destroy essential economic infrastructure within the Khabat district.
Khurshid Harki leads a major faction of the prominent Harki tribe. The current legal charges stem from an intense conflict in July 2025. During that time, a fierce land dispute erupted. The argument between Khurshid Harki and the Goran tribe leader quickly escalated. The situation transformed into a dangerous armed confrontation.
Therefore, Peshmerga and regional security forces initiated a massive intervention. Khurshid Harki, however, boldly refused to surrender to the authorities. Instead, his loyal tribesmen dug deep defensive trenches. They also set up burning roadblocks to block government forces. The resulting clashes lasted for several days, leaving two people dead and 11 injured.
The intense combat finally subsided after high-level political intervention. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani successfully negotiated a temporary ceasefire. Later, Harki publicly declared the entire issue resolved.
He even threw his strong support behind the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party. Finally, Erbil police reassured local residents in their concluding remarks. They promised total protection for citizen lives and private property.