SULAIMANI,— Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani on Sunday condemned recent clashes at the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaimani, describing the armed group involved as an “illegal militia” that put lives at risk and disrupted security. The statement came after a week of tensions that saw gunfire exchanged between militia members and official security forces inside and near the hotel. “No individual or armed group is above the law,” Talabani said in his remarks. He instructed PUK-affiliated media outlets to avoid spreading “unverified claims” circulated by other sources and called for responsible reporting to protect public trust. Officials later said they had foiled an assassination attempt against Bafel Talabani.