Violence erupts on Sulaymaniyah-Arbat Road as tanker drivers clash with protesting public sector workers

SULAYMANIYAH — A confrontation erupted on the Sulaimaniyah-Arbat Road late Monday night when a group of oil tanker drivers clashed with protesting public sector employees protesting delayed salaries from the Kurdistan Regional Government. The protesters, mainly teachers, had blocked the road to pressure officials over unpaid wages and to denounce what they described as rampant oil smuggling benefiting ruling parties.

The protest began Sunday when demonstrators from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja set up tents along the road leading to the Bashmakh and Parvez Khan border crossings with Iran, permitting only passenger cars to pass. “We’re cutting off the wealth of those who have cut off our livelihoods,” one protester told 964media.

The blockade stranded dozens of oil tankers loaded with crude oil and gasoline. Tensions escalated Monday night when tanker drivers attacked the protesters’ tents, prompting violent clashes. Protesters hurled stones to block the advancing vehicles. “The drivers tried to force their way through, but we didn’t let them,” said one teacher.

Security forces soon intervened, forcibly reopening the road and allowing the tankers to proceed. Osman Abdullah Golpi, a striking teacher, wrote on Facebook that security forces applied “excessive pressure” to dismantle the blockade. “Our cars and phones were seized by security forces as the tankers were allowed to pass,” he added.

In a video shared by protester Hadi Hamarashid, the night was described as “tense but courageous.” He accused security forces of siding with the tanker drivers, stating, “It didn’t surprise me that they worked to protect the government’s interests rather than ours.”

Security forces briefly detained several protesters before releasing them a few hours later. Adil Hassan, another teacher leading the demonstrations, wrote on Facebook, “We are free now, but our cars and phones remain confiscated.”

Journalists covering the event encountered harassment from security personnel. Zoom TV reported that its correspondent and camera operator were detained, while Sharpress said one of its reporters, Chawarwan Mahmoud, was assaulted and hospitalized. Payam TV reported that its correspondent, Wshyar Mohammed, was arrested by Sulaymaniyah’s security forces but later released.

The Kurdistan Region Security Agency issued a statement Tuesday confirming that the clashes were triggered by the blockade. “Our forces intervened to restore order, prevent further violence, and ensure the safety of everyone involved,” the statement read. It noted that no arrests had been officially made, though several people sustained injuries during the violence.