One killed, three injured in armed land dispute in Kirkuk

KIRKUK, Iraq — One person was killed and three others wounded on Friday morning when a land ownership dispute in central Kirkuk escalated into an armed clash, according to local security sources. The fighting broke out in the Benja Ali neighborhood after a group from the Jinjamal area arrived and argued with the owner of the contested plot. A 60-year-old man identified as Kadir Ma'ruf was killed in the exchange of fire. The landowner and his brother, a police officer, were wounded along with a member of the opposing group and another person who had attempted to mediate the dispute. Security forces were deployed to the area and established a cordon around the site. An operation was launched to arrest suspects who fled the scene, while authorities opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the clash and identify those responsible. Local sources said tension remained in the area following the incident.