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Lahur Talabani
Vice-President, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (born 1975) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lahur Talabani (Kurdish: لاهور تاڵەبانی; born 1975), also known as Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani[1] (Kurdish: لاهور شێخ جەنگی تاڵەبانی) is an Iraqi politician, he was the Vice-President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan,[2][3] the former Director of the Zanyarî Agency and Former Director of the Counter Terrorism Group (CTG). Known commonly as Sheikh Lahur, Talabani was a leading figure in the fight against terror[4] especially in the fight against the Islamic State. After losing a leadership battle and being ousted from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Lahur proceeded to found his own party, the People's Front.[5]
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Political and military career
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Mthe support of the United States Military 10th Special Forces Group and the Central Intelligence Agency. Talabani continues to play an integral role in the fight against terrorism.[6] Talabani is a well respected and distinguished figure in the Iraqi political, military and intelligence communities. A staunch ally of the United States and the West, Talabani continues to be an influential and crucial figure in the security and political fields in Middle East and the wider region. Having established strong foundations with key figures in Iraq, Talabani also maintains good relations with prominent Arab leaders and influential Western and Middle Eastern states. Since July 2021 there is a struggle over the leadership go the PUK, in which Bafel Talabani accuses Lahur of poisoning him while Lahur rejects such claims and calls for a resolution within the leadership council of the PUK.[7]
Ansar al-Islam and Operation Viking Hammer
In 2003 Talabani played a leading role in the decisive Operation Viking Hammer to oust the Ansar al-Islam terrorist organization, which was recognized as a major threat to Kurdistan's national security. The operation's success led to the permanent expulsion of Ansar al-Islam from the Kurdistan Region.
Leadership battle in the PUK and split-off
After the founder and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani, died in 2017, a struggle for the leadership of the party ignited between Jalal's son Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi. On the PUK's fourth congress in December 2019, Sheikh Jangi received the most votes for the General Leadership Council. In a compromise, he and Bafel were proclaimed co-presidents. In July 2021, Bafel shut down a media outlet close to Sheikh Jangi and ousted several important commanders from the counter-terrorism and intelligence units of the PUK, who were seen as affiliates of him. Shortly after, Bafel was declared the sole leader of the party. In November, Lahur Sheikh Jangi was expelled from the PUK along a few others and Bafel took full control over the party's finances. Sheikh Jangi filed a lawsuit against the expulsion. In February 2023, a court in Erbil ruled, that the ouster from the co-presidency contradicted PUK's internal regulation and reinstated him. A day after however, on February 21, the judicial authority on Iraqi elections in Baghdad declared Bafel Talabani the sole leader of the PUK.[8]
After that, Sheikh Jangi proceeded to work on founding his own party, the People's Front.[5] His new party received its license from the interior ministry on 17 January 2024[9] and was joined by several former PUK-members from Lahur's wing.[5]
August 2025 Sulaymaniyah clashes
On 22 August 2025, security forces in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq carried out an overnight operation in Sulaymaniyah to arrest opposition figure Lahur Talabani, also known as Lahur Sheikh Jangi, leader of the People’s Front party and former co-chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The operation was conducted following an arrest warrant issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which relates to premeditated murder.[10]
At around 3:30 a.m. local time, armed clashes broke out between Talabani’s supporters and security personnel at the Lalezar Hotel, where he was staying. The fighting lasted several hours before Talabani surrendered. His brother, Polad (Bolad) Sheikh Jangi, was injured in the leg during the clashes and was also taken into custody.[10]
According to officials, the clashes resulted in the deaths of three members of the security forces and injuries to at least nineteen others. Local media reported that among those killed were Diyar Sardar Hakim, a Peshmerga commando, and Ari Sheikh Suad Talabani of the Counter-Terrorism Group.[11][12]
Following the incident, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir called for restraint and urged all parties to avoid further escalation in order to preserve stability in the region.[10]
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Personal life
is married and has three children: two sons and a daughter. He has five brothers and two sisters. Talebanî is fluent in Kurdish, English, Turkish, Arabic, and Persian. He is an avid football fan and supports Liverpool F.C. Talebanî has a strong interest in ancient history and enjoys painting. He is the nephew of Celal Talebanî.[13][14]
References
External links
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