Kurdistan Region Presidency expresses ‘great concern’ over Nasrallah assassination, calls for restraint

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Presidency has expressed deep concerns over the assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and the escalating military tensions in the Middle East. In an official statement, the Presidency extended condolences to Nasrallah’s family and companions, expressing solidarity with them during this difficult time.

“These events pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the region,” the statement warned. It emphasized that continued escalation “will only lead to more tragedy and destruction, affecting everyone without distinction.” The statement urged all parties to “act with wisdom and restraint” to prevent further deterioration and to safeguard regional stability.

While Iraq observes three days of national mourning, with nearly all political parties, including Sunni groups, condemning the assassination, the response in the Kurdistan Region has been more measured.

The KRG has often faced accusations from Iran and its allies of being pro-Israel, with Tehran launching missile strikes on Erbil in the past, alleging it harbored Mossad offices—claims the KRG has firmly denied and are widely considered false. The strikes targeted local entrepreneurs.

During the World Government Summit in February 2024, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani addressed the Palestine issue, stating, “The crisis we are witnessing in Palestine is deeply troubling… its humanitarian toll on civilians, its capacity to fuel chaos beyond Gaza, and because the root causes of the injustice remain unaddressed.” Barzani added that had Palestinian rights been resolved decades ago, “there would have been far less chance of the tragedy we are seeing now,” criticizing the international community’s failure to address the conflict.

At the political party level, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party has remained silent, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has taken a different approach. Bafel Talabani, head of the PUK, issued a statement expressing sorrow over Nasrallah’s death. “It is with deep sorrow that we have received the news of the martyrdom of His Eminence, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” Talabani said, offering condolences to Nasrallah’s family, the people of Lebanon, and the broader Muslim community. He called on the international community “to uphold its legal and humanitarian responsibilities to put an end to these bloodshed and aggressions in Palestine, Lebanon, and the wider region.” Talabani also urged all sides to show restraint and condemned “these heinous acts committed by Israel against civilians and the targeted assassinations of leaders.”

Talabani’s use of the term “martyrdom” is notable in Islamic culture, signaling reverence and support for Nasrallah’s cause, as it denotes someone who dies for a righteous cause. His statement reflects ties with Iran and efforts to align with the regional “axis of resistance.” Talabani has maintained strong relationships with Iranian-backed political factions in Iraq.

The “axis of resistance” refers to a political-military alliance led by Iran that includes Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, various Iraqi militias, and Syria, united in opposition to Western influence and Israeli interests in the Middle East.

Nasrallah was a key ally of Iran, with Hezbollah receiving military and financial support from Tehran.

Nasrallah publicly opposed the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum, aligning with Iran’s stance against Kurdish secession from Iraq.

Hezbollah operatives were implicated in the 1992 Mykonos restaurant assassination in Berlin, where the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Sharafkandi, was killed alongside other party members.

Similarly, the Kurdistan Justice Group, a Sunni Islamist party, also condemned Nasrallah’s assassination. In a statement, the party accused Israel of pushing the region into “a dangerous and unpredictable phase” by killing Nasrallah. The party linked the assassination to Nasrallah’s support for Palestinian resistance during the Aqsa uprising, emphasizing that his death resulted from this backing.

The Justice Group also warned that more leaders could be targeted in the future. “In the coming days, other leaders may also fall victim to this regime’s treacherous acts,” the group stated, urging vigilance against further escalations. The statement concluded with a message of faith and hope, asserting: “We hold unwavering faith in the promises of God and His Prophet… we will witness a Middle East free of Zionism and its savage atrocities.”