A confidential source within the leadership of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) told Avatoday that the party’s leader Bafel Talabani orchestrated the latest Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Monday missile attack on Erbil.
At least five civilians were killed and over a dozen wounded.
According to the source who talked to Avatoday on condition of anonymity, in late 2023, Bafel Talabani sat with high ranking commanders of IRGC’s Quds Force in the city of Penjwen.
At the meeting, the sources said, Bafel Talabani claimed he had information about a base in Erbil belonging to Israeli National Intelligence agency Mossad.
But Talabani conditioned providing the information with the elimination of Azhi Amin, former head of the PUK intelligence agency which IRGC agreed to, the source added.
Azhi Amin was appointed as head of the PUK intelligence in July 2021 when tension between party’s co-chairs Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi rose.
Several months later, Azhi Amin left Slemani to Erbil after he was sacked from his post.
According to the source, Bafel Talabani wanted Azhi Amin to be eliminated as he is considered the privy of Talabani’s intimate relation with Iran.
An assassination attempt against Azhi was foiled before Talabani met with IRGC Quds officials.
Monday’s missile attack on Erbil was supposed to happen in early January but it was postponed at Talabani’s request.
Talabani’s reason was that Wali Inakhi, a companion of Azhi Amin had agreed to return back to Sulaimani and as an insider he must be saved.
After the delay, the attack happened, Azhi Amin headquarters was one of the targets, but he survived.
Media outlets close to the IRGC accuse Azhi Amin of having a role in the killing of Mohesen Fakhrizadeh, head of Iran's nuclear weapon who was killed in November 2020 near Tehran allegedly by Israel.
This is while at that time, Azhi Amin was an official of the Intelligence agency PUK.
Residence of Peshraw Dizayee, prominent Kurdish businessman, was also one of the targets in which he and his 11-months daughter Jina lost their lives.
