Caption: Lt. Col. Mustafa Naeem Jarallah, who died from injuries sustained while protecting a polling center in Tuz Khurmatu, as announced by the Defense Ministry.
Iraqi officer dies from wounds sustained in Tuz Khurmatu election-day clash
SALAH AL-DIN — The Iraqi Defense Ministry said Saturday that Lt. Col. Mustafa Naeem Jarallah has died of injuries sustained four days earlier while protecting a polling center and ballot boxes in Tuz Khurmatu.
“With deep sorrow and grief, the Ministry of Defense mourns Lt. Col. Mustafa Naeem Jarallah… who was martyred after being injured during the protection of the election center and ballot boxes four days ago,” the ministry said, offering condolences to his family.
Local security sources said Iraqi army units intervened to stop the confrontation. Jarallah was struck by a stray bullet during the response and was transferred to a hospital in Kirkuk, where he later died. The clash occurred shortly before polling stations closed.
The incident came hours after a separate shooting in Kirkuk that left two police officers dead and two civilians injured outside the office of Turkmen Front candidate Mardin Gökkaya. The Interior Ministry said that dispute escalated when the candidate’s guards opened fire on responding Rescue Police officers. Fourteen suspects were later arrested.