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KRG interior ministry blames ‘instigators’ for deadly unrest on road between Gwer and Erbil
ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Interior Ministry on Saturday accused unnamed actors of fomenting unrest on the road between Gwer and Erbil, saying one person was killed and several others injured after protesters blocked fuel tanker routes and gunfire was reported.
In its statement, the ministry said “various external parties, with the encouragement of certain local individuals and internal parties, have been attempting to create unrest,” drawing a link to earlier attacks on the Khor Mor gas field, which it described as an effort “to halt electricity generation in the Region.”
After the Nov. 26 drone strike on Khor Mor forced a shutdown in gas supplies, the ministry said the government responded by relying on liquid fuel “to maintain power supply.” It said a group of “instigators of unrest in the Gwer area then blocked the road used by fuel tankers, and fired upon drivers travelling along the route,” resulting in casualties.
The ministry warned that authorities “will no longer allow anyone to exploit the tolerance of the Kurdistan Region’s institutions,” adding that “a clear limit will be imposed on such disruptive acts” and that those involved will be dealt with under existing laws.
The violence followed several days of protests by residents of villages around the area, who have been demanding jobs at a local refinery. Demonstrators blocked the road to the facilities, causing heavy congestion, and videos posted online captured sustained gunfire during Saturday’s escalation. Witnesses told 964media that ambulances arrived at the scene and that security forces were heavily deployed. A source familiar with the situation reported “deaths and injuries,” although details remain unclear.
Journalists have faced restricted access to Lajan village, and a 964media reporter was prevented from entering the area. Sulaymaniyah-based Channel 8 said its crew was attacked during a live broadcast, and footage released by the station shows a man attempting to damage its camera and livestream equipment.
Network 19, a local human rights organization, said it “condemns all forms of violence,” reporting that “clashes broke out and as a result one person was killed and several others were injured.”
The Nov. 26 drone attack on the Khor Mor field struck a storage tank, sparked a fire that burned for hours and forced a full shutdown of gas supplies to power stations, cutting electricity across Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and other areas. The site, one of Iraq’s main gas fields, has been hit multiple times in recent years, including a 2024 strike that killed four foreign workers.