SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Clashes erupted in Sulaimniya on Sunday between Kurdish security forces, or Asayesh, and a “terrorist” group, leaving five “terrorists” dead, according to the Kurdish province governor.
“The Sulaimniya security forces, acting upon intelligence tip-offs they received, conducted an operation to hunt down a terrorist group.
Clashes broke out between security men and the terrorist, leaving five terrorists, including one who blew himself up after he was wounded, dead,” Bahruz Mohammed Saleh said in a press conference held at the provincial building today (Feb.27).
“The tip-offs held that 10-12 terrorists crossed into the borders from Zali area, Barzinja district, (50 km) east of Sulaimaniya, and had TNT explosive material, improvised explosive devices and Kalashnikov assault rifles with them.
They were planning to attack certain targets in Sulaimaniya,” Saleh added.
“The fate of about seven terrorists is still unknown,” he noted.
The Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya lies 364 northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Asayeh or Asayish (Kurdish for security) is a Kurdish organization and the primary intelligence agency operating in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
The organization was established in September 1993 and has been often referred to as "intelligence agency", "security force", "security service", "security police", "secret service", "secret police", or just "Kurdish police".
Asayesh coordinates and shares information with Parastin and Zaniyar, the investigative arms and intelligence gatherers operating in the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
It acts under the command of the Kurdish National Assembly and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Its official goals according to the Kurdistan authority are combating drug trafficking, combating terrorism, combating espionage, gathering intelligence and assessing threats to Iraq’s national security.
The organization has jurisdiction over economic crimes, smuggling and political crimes
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