Kurdish boy missing after Iraq's Pirdê raid found dead, civilian toll rises to two
The body of Muhammed Hêmin, missing since a clash between Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service and ISIS militants in Pirdê, Kirkuk, was found two days later. His family rejects claims that he was an ISIS member.
RastinewsMuhammed Hêmin went missing during a clash between Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service and ISIS militants in the Pirdê (Altınköprü) subdistrict of Kirkuk on Sunday, 27 September. He was later found dead, raising the civilian death toll from the operation to two.
Muhammed Hêmin's body was held for two days at the Forensic Medicine Unit of Kirkuk's Azadi Teaching Hospital. Severe damage to the remains had prevented identification.
Family identified him by his clothes
A relative said Muhammed was found in a warehouse in Pirdê during the clash and had been hit by heavy machine-gun fire. The family could only identify him by his clothing, the relative said.
"If it weren't for his clothes, they couldn't have recognized him — his face was badly mutilated," the relative said.
According to information obtained by Rûdaw correspondent Herdi Muhammed, Muhammed was killed by fire from Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service.
Investigation opened
Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the deaths of the two Kurdish young men, Kurdistan24 reported. Muhammed Hêmin's family rejects claims that their son was an ISIS member.
"They came without telling anyone"
Abdulmutalib Necmedin, head of the Pirdê subdistrict, said local administration and security units were not informed before the operation.
"I am responsible for the administrative and security affairs of this subdistrict, and I wasn't informed. The police and security units weren't informed either. They closed the road and opened fire," he said.
According to information obtained by Rûdaw, the Counter-Terrorism Service had planned to target the ISIS militants in a deserted area. The gunmen, realizing they were being followed, opened fire first, and some Counter-Terrorism personnel were wounded in the clash. Because the operation was kept secret, other security units in the area were not informed, the report said.
Murad Zana, who worked at the warehouse, also killed
Murad Zana, a young Kurdish man working at the warehouse, was also killed in the clash. At his funeral, his family criticized how security forces had carried out the operation.
Murad Zana's uncle said: "What was the point of bringing in all these forces to attack the town, firing heavy weapons? What did that young boy know?"
Two ISIS members killed in the operation
On 27 September, Iraqi security forces killed two ISIS militants who had entered a household goods warehouse in central Pirdê. The men killed were reported to have been wearing suicide vests.
Saad Maan, head of Iraq's Security Media Cell, said the operation was carried out by a unit under the Second Special Operations Command following intelligence gathering and surveillance. A third ISIS member, tasked with transporting the militants, was captured wounded, according to Maan.
Rewend Hakim, the warehouse owner's nephew, said he saw pieces of flesh and blood at the scene and suggested one of the gunmen may have detonated himself.
Iraqi and Kurdistan Region forces had previously carried out a joint operation against ISIS positions on the outskirts of Pirdê. Two ISIS members were killed in that operation as well, and authorities suspected more militants remained in the area.