ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - One person was killed and two others, including a woman, were injured in an armed clash between two families in the subdistrict of Dibaga in Makhmour district on Tuesday, according to local security forces.
Rudaw’s Mustafa Goran, reporting from the scene, said the confrontation occurred around noon between four households from the two families. The same families reportedly clashed over the same issue three months ago.
Security forces said the dispute was over a water canal and initially began as a fistfight before escalating into an armed clash. “They shot at each other,” Dibaga local security forces (Asayish) told Rudaw, confirming that rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were used.
The incident comes as Iraq holds parliamentary elections, but Asayish stressed that “the clash has no connection to the elections.” Security forces quickly contained the situation and arrested seven suspects.
“We will not allow the clash to spread,” Asayish said, adding that negotiations were ongoing with several armed individuals who remained inside their homes.
Makhmour, located southeast of Erbil, is administratively part of Nineveh province.