The 2025 Sulaymaniyah clashes (Kurdish: ڕووداوەکانی سلێمانی) were armed confrontations that occurred on 22 August 2025 in the city of Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, following a security raid targeting opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani. The incident led to the arrest of Lahur Talabani, his brother Polad Talabani, and several of their associates. The clashes drew significant attention and concern across the Middle East.
The arrest of Lahur Talabani comes after the arrest of Shaswar Abdulwahid, the leader of the New Generation Movement, who was also detained in Sulaymaniyah. According to political observers, this series of arrests carried out by Bafel and Qubad Talabani is aimed at consolidating and strengthening the power of the PUK in Sulaymaniyah.
HistoryLayer draws the world as it was in any year from 123,000 BCE to
2026. Move the slider and the borders redraw for that year; the map
carries 23,890 events, 12,790 people, 837 wars and 13,183 cities, each
one readable in place. Signing in is optional and lets you keep what
you find.