Woman wounded by stray bullet from military range as Kirkuk authorities order closure

KIRKUK — A 21-year-old woman was seriously wounded by a stray bullet near a weapons training ground in Komptler village west of Kirkuk, prompting authorities to order the range closed and relocated, officials and family members said.

Malak Issam, a mother of two, was struck while visiting farmland near the village, according to her father, Haji Issam Jabbar. He said she suffered severe bleeding and has not yet undergone surgery.

“I have a small farm near the village. On Sunday, we went there to spend some pleasant time and have a meal,” Jabbar told 964media. “My daughter was walking around with her cousin when she screamed. I saw that a bullet had hit her neck.”

He said doctors determined “the bullet moved down toward her chest and she suffered bleeding.” He added, “We are waiting for the bleeding to stop so that surgery can be performed and the bullet removed.”

Jabbar said his daughter is the third person injured due to the nearby training field. “I thank the Kirkuk Operations commander and the minister of defense for deciding to move the range to another location,” he said. “I hope it is not just words on paper and that it will be implemented. We know the army protects people, not harms them.”

According to a written order issued by the Kirkuk Operations Command, obtained by 964media, the range will be relocated to Qaradara village between Kirkuk and Dibis district. The document states no one is permitted to use the current site again.

The training field is located inside the K1 military base, where live-fire exercises are conducted daily starting at 3 p.m., according to local sources. The defense minister ordered the closure following the incident.