Khurshid Herki: Influential Tribal Kurdish Leader Who Opened Fire on the Peshmerga

A rare and intense clash erupted between security forces and a local tribe in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, after Khurshid Herki — a leading tribal figure — openly defied authorities during an attempted arrest tied to a tribal dispute.

The outskirts of Erbil, particularly the town of Khabat (43 kilometers from the city center), turned into a battlefield after members of the Herki tribe gathered near their leader’s residence to prevent his arrest, leaving two people dead and 11 others injured from both sides.

Peshmerga Officer

Khurshid Herki’s name dominated local Iraqi media—especially Kurdish outlets—following the recent clashes between the Herki tribe and Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region on July 8, 2025.

The conflict began with a land dispute between the Zeravani and Herki tribes, escalating when Peshmerga forces attempted to arrest Khurshid al-Herki, accusing him of threatening the rival tribe and fueling the crisis.

In a video circulated on social media, Khurshid called on his supporters to take up arms against the Peshmerga, urging a “national uprising” against the Kurdistan Regional Government and the leader of the ruling party, Masoud Barzani, whom he accused of undermining Kurdish unity and strength.

In response, the Herki tribe—supported by allied tribes—blocked major roads leading to Erbil, including the Khabat road, to prevent Peshmerga reinforcements from reaching the area.

Nawshirwan Herki, a PUK official, said the conflict began as a dispute between Peshmerga officers Khurshid Herki and Bashar Musheer Agha, then escalated when Khurshid’s supporters responded with heavier weapons, seeing a water diversion as an intrusion on their territory.

The clashes, which involved both light and heavy weapons, left casualties on both sides. Khurshid Herki later threatened to target the Kar and Lanaz oil refineries if tensions continued—a move that could severely impact the region’s refining capacity.

A day after the intense clashes, the conflict was declared over on the evening of July 9, following direct intervention by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who sent a special envoy to Khurshid Herki.

In a press conference held at his residence in the Khabat area, Khurshid Herki stated: “I am committed to the orders of leader Masoud Barzani. As a Peshmerga fighter, I followed his directives, and based on his decision, we ended the dispute.”

“I thank leader Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for their efforts in resolving this conflict.”

Tribal Leader

Khurshid Herki, born in Erbil and believed to be in his fifties, is one of the most prominent sheikhs of the Herki tribe in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. He is widely known as a tribal leader with significant social and political influence.

The Herki tribe, of which Khurshid is a prominent figure, is one of the major Kurdish tribes present across Iran, Iraq, and Türkiye. It is divided into three main branches: Mandan, Sarhati, and Sidan.

Khurshid belongs to the al-Mulla clan from the Sarhati branch, which has historically held leadership within the tribe. This clan is particularly influential due to its historical and structural standing in the region.

The leadership of this branch has traditionally been held by the al-Mulla (Herki) clan. In Iraqi Kurdistan, figures like Musa al-Herki and his son Haji Faqo Herki played major roles before Khurshid emerged as a key leader.

Historically, the Herki tribe led a nomadic life, moving to Iran and Turkiye in the summer and returning to Iraq in the winter. Today, it is mainly present in Erbil and Duhok provinces, as well as in Mosul, which lies outside the Kurdistan Region’s official boundaries.

Khurshid was once a prominent member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), but left the party after disagreements with the Barzani family. However, he later rejoined following mediation efforts.

As both a military and tribal leader, Khurshid has built considerable influence not only among the Herki tribes but also with other allied tribes. His call for an uprising against the KDP reflects his authority and ability to mobilize tribal power.

Gang Leader

The recent crisis in Erbil is not the first of its kind. According to a local source from the city, the Herki clan has a long history of armed disputes with the Kurdistan Region’s authorities, often challenging the state.

The source, speaking to Al-Estiklal on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said, “The Herki tribe is known for possessing weapons and frequently rebelling against the authorities. Many of its members have been killed because of this.”

“Many people in the Kurdistan Region saw parts of the Herki tribe as gangsters. They deal with them cautiously and even avoid buying or selling from them due to their defiance of state authority.”

Iraq’s al-Maalouma agency—affiliated with Kata’ib Hezbollah—quoted an official source in Erbil, claiming that the armed clashes between the Peshmerga and the Herki tribe are linked to internal struggles over oil field control and smuggling operations to Turkiye.

The agency reported on July 9 that Khurshid, the Herki sheikh in the Khabat area, had previously blocked a force loyal to Masoud Barzani from taking over nearby oil fields, allegedly with support from influential figures in the Kurdistan government who had defected from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

According to the report, this defiance prompted the regional guard forces to storm the area, but they were met with intense gunfire from a variety of weapons, forcing them to retreat.

The source added that Khurshid Herki threatened to burn the oil fields if Barzani’s forces insisted on arresting him or launching a campaign against his followers who had risen up against Barzani’s rule and his armed groups.

He noted that several members of the Barzani-aligned Peshmerga later surrendered to tribal forces, who ultimately seized full control of the Khabat area after driving them out.

Political analyst Latif al-Sheikh said what happened in Khabat should not be seen as a mere tribal feud. He believes the incident signals deeper internal shifts—possibly political—marking an unprecedented confrontation with security forces.

In a statement to Baghdad Today on July 9, al-Sheikh said that past tribal disputes in Kurdistan usually revolved around land or water rights, but they had never escalated to the point of entire areas falling under tribal control and fierce battles erupting with security forces, as seen in Khabat.

Some political players may have capitalized on the unrest, even if they didn’t spark it. Either way, the unfolding events point to a need for the KDP to reevaluate its internal strategy.

The violent protests—led by both men and women—and the targeting of a Peshmerga officer in Erbil reflect deep-rooted anger. What appeared to be a property dispute may be a cover for broader political and social grievances long left unaddressed, according to the analyst.