Kirkuk Governor Orders Army Withdrawal from Disputed Nawroz Neighborhood; Families Return Home

Peregraf — The Governor of Kirkuk, Rebwar Taha, intervened on Sunday to de-escalate tensions in the city’s Nawroz neighborhood, ordering the return of evicted families and announcing the full withdrawal of Iraqi Army units from the area.

The intervention followed an early morning operation by Iraqi Army units, who entered several Kurdish homes and removed residents, sparking widespread local backlash. Video footage circulating online appeared to show a man being forcibly removed from his property, an incident that fueled public anger and led to urgent calls for government intervention.

Governor Taha visited the neighborhood personally following the reports and oversaw the return of at least one displaced family. “What happened is that several army officers had their eyes on these houses,” Taha said, suggesting that specific interests within the military may have motivated the operation. 

The Governor confirmed that all affected families would be permitted to return and that the military presence would be withdrawn. “The other families will also return to their homes, and the Iraqi Army will withdraw completely,” Taha stated.

According to the Governor, the dispute has been placed under the authority of the Kirkuk Governorate Office following direct coordination with senior military leadership. He noted that in a phone call with the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, it was agreed that the administration of the disputed properties would remain under local government control for the time being.

“Only two houses will remain problematic, and I, as Governor, will personally resolve them,” he added.

Taha also clarified the legal status of the properties, noting that the homes in the Nawroz neighborhood are officially state-owned rather than privately titled. However, he acknowledged that the families have resided there since the fall of the Ba'ath Party regime in 2003. 

“We intend to handle these cases according to Resolution No. 320. We will strive to grant ownership of these houses to these families,” he said, referring to a federal decree aimed at regularizing the status of housing built or occupied on state land.

The Nawroz neighborhood—comprising 122 houses and historically known as the “Officers’ Neighborhood”—has been a recurring flashpoint between residents and the Iraqi Army, which claims ownership of the land. The standoff has caused repeated friction over the years, with a final legal resolution still pending before the Iraqi courts.

Sunday’s developments mark a significant local intervention, though the broader legal dispute over land ownership in the area remains unresolved.