Iraqi and Kurdish authorities jointly accused the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) of being responsible for a series of major fires that ravaged bazaars across Erbil, Duhok, and Kirkuk provinces in recent months.

The fires, which injured hundreds and caused millions of dollars in damage, had raised suspicions of arson due to their frequent occurrence. A joint investigation by the Iraqi and Kurdish interior ministries concluded that the fires were deliberate acts by the PKK.

Three suspects have been arrested and confessed to involvement in the fires. Two of them were identified as members of the Peshmerga's Unit 70 forces and the Sulaimani-based Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG).

"The PKK, a banned organization, is sponsoring and carrying out these attacks," said Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for Iraq's interior ministry. He suggested the fires targeted "the commercial interests" of Türkiye and aimed to "disrupt the economy and security" of the Kurdistan Region, ultimately causing public discontent.

The fires were reportedly caused by a flammable paste placed inside merchandise boxes, igniting after several hours. Authorities estimate the material damage to be around $300 million.

"Investigations revealed these were not accidental incidents," said Hemin Mirany, chief of staff to the Kurdistan Regional Government's interior ministry. "They aimed to damage people's livelihoods, strain public trust in the government, and ultimately destroy the relationship between the people and their government."

According to Miri, the PKK planned to target additional locations in Erbil, Duhok, Kirkuk, and Baghdad, including the Ceyhan pipeline and similar locations in neighboring countries.

Authorities had previously suspected arson after major fires hit Erbil's Langa bazaar twice in less than two months and a massive fire engulfed Duhok's Chale bazaar in April. Shopkeepers in Kirkuk's Qaysari bazaar also reported suspicious circumstances surrounding a fire there. (ILKHA)