The specific details of the dispute are yet to be revealed, but the ministry announced that Brigadier General Aziz Shalal Jahl, head of intelligence at Dhi Qar’s counterterrorism directorate, was killed in the clash.
The ministry stressed that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“The Dhi Qar police command has initiated a wide inspection operation within the scene of the incident and cordoned off the entire place to arrest both parties to the conflict so that they can receive their just punishment,” said the ministry.
Dhi Qar governor Murtadha al-Ibrahimi expressed his sadness over Jahl’s killing, and said that he engaged in phone calls with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Interior Minister Abdul-Amir al-Shammari, during which the Iraqi premier stressed the need to take all the necessary “legal and judicial” measures against the perpetrators.
“As a local administration, we affirm our full commitment to enforcing the law and we stand with the security services in performing their duties. We will not allow this incident to pass without reaching the killers, so that they can receive their just punishment,” said Ibrahimi.
Tribal disputes remain one of the main challenges facing Sudani’s cabinet, as repeated clashes across the southern and central provinces of the country continue to leave behind large numbers of casualties.
Dhi Qar is among the provinces most affected by the tribal clashes and altercations have at times required interventions by the army.
