Kirkuk families demand answers after ICTS raid deaths

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Relatives of two Kurdish teenagers killed during an Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) operation in Pirde (Altun Kupri) on Sunday met with a Baghdad-appointed investigative committee on Tuesday, demanding answers as officials pledged to pursue the case and compensate those affected.

The committee, formed by the Iraqi prime minister’s office following the tragic Sunday deaths, questioned members of the ICTS, eyewitnesses and other security agencies about the operation in Pirde, north of Kirkuk during its Tuesday visit.

Hemin Rahman, the father of the 15-year-old victim Mohammed Hemin, said he told investigators everything he believed happened at his warehouse, where his son was killed by gunfire.

“If they had just told us themselves or called to say there was an ISIS member inside your shop … I would have bound both of their hands and handed them over,” Rahman told Rudaw's Hardi Mohammed on Wednesday, saying the committee had promised to follow up with the case “until the very end.” 

The committee includes the head of ICTS’ operations, the director of Iraqi intelligence and a representative of the army chief of staff. The visiting officials told the families that those found negligent would be punished and that compensation would be provided for the losses.

Abdulmuttalib Najmadin, mayor of the town of Pirde, said the two senior ICTS officers on the committee appeared deeply affected while listening to the families. 

“They say they won't let their rights go in vain, they will receive their due rights, be counted as martyrs, and be compensated,” Najmadin said.

The investigation draws significance given the ICTS’ initial account of its forces having clashed with three “terrorists from the remnant of ISIS,” killing two and arresting a third. Local officials and the families, however, rejected that account and said the two teenagers were civilians caught in the crossfire.

The ICTS has not removed a public Facebook post identifying Mohammed's body as that of an ISIS fighter, despite the formation of an investigative committee and the ongoing probe.

The conflicting accounts have left residents questioning whether the investigation will establish what happened and hold those responsible to account.

“My heart is so heavy for this child,” said Adel Ali, a Kirkuk resident. “It is truly a crime, truly an injustice against these people.”

Former Khurmatu governor Shalal Abdul said he remained doubtful about the outcome, telling Rudaw, “I have no hope that the committee that came will be able to properly resolve this or reveal the truth of the events.”

Rudaw learned that, in addition to the two deaths, Mohammed’s family warehouse, four houses and three cars were damaged during the operation. The amount of compensation for those affected has not yet been determined.

The operation also killed another local teenager, Murad Zana. Kirkuk officials said earlier that the ICTS delegation had acknowledged Mohammed was mistakenly killed during the exchange of fire, although the agency has not publicly issued a statement acknowledging the deaths as mistakes.