Large forest fire near Sulaymaniyah contained; Iran-linked claim denied

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — A large forest fire that broke out on the Koyize Plateau north of Sulaymaniyah was brought under control by firefighters and forest police, with no casualties reported, Iraqi Kurdish officials said. Civil Defense spokesperson Aram Ali said crews were dispatched at 11:45 p.m. after receiving a notification and extinguished the flames after roughly two hours of work. Damage was limited to trees and vegetation, he added. Sulaymaniyah Forest Police Director Brigadier General Hushyar Ahmed said full control was secured overnight, with forest police, civil defense units and local volunteers taking part in the response. According to officials, the fire scorched approximately 200 dunums of land, most of it covered in pine trees. The cause has not been officially announced pending a technical field investigation. The blaze was visible from multiple points across the city, and images circulated widely on social media, raising concern among residents. Separately, Iran's Tasnim news agency claimed the fire stemmed from a Revolutionary Guards attack targeting "separatist and opposing groups" on Mount Koyize north of Sulaymaniyah. Iraqi authorities and Kurdistan Region security agencies did not corroborate the claim.