In response to the recent escalations in Kirkuk, Iraq, the Iraqi Parliament's security committee is embarking on a mission to investigate the causes and those responsible for the unrest in the city. This move comes after a decree from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani called for the evacuation of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) headquarters in the province, sparking protests that led to the tragic death of at least four Kurdish protesters.

The security committee, led by Sagvan Sindi, the deputy chairman of the security and defense committee, is set to visit Kirkuk on Tuesday. Their aim is to shed light on the underlying tensions and unravel the circumstances surrounding the violent incidents. Once the investigation is complete, they plan to submit a detailed report to the parliament.

The committee's agenda for the visit includes meetings with key figures in Kirkuk, such as Acting Governor Rakan al-Jabouri, the Kirkuk operations command, and various other security and executive officials from the province. These discussions are expected to provide valuable insights into the events that transpired.

The call for this investigation gained momentum during a parliamentary session on Saturday when Iraq's Parliamentary Speaker, Mohammed al-Halbousi, issued the order for the committee's visit to Kirkuk.

In a significant development, Shakhawan Abdullah, the Iraqi parliament’s second deputy speaker, revealed that two main suspects from the security forces had been identified as responsible for the violence against Kurdish protesters.

The tensions in Kirkuk were further exacerbated when supporters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) blocked the main Kirkuk-Erbil highway for days. These demonstrators were protesting Prime Minister Sudani's decree, which called for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to its offices, a move met with resistance from the city's Kurdish majority.

Although the PMF protesters ended their sit-in following the unrest, concerns grew when a convoy of armored vehicles was deployed to the JOC headquarters. However, Kurdish neighborhoods have since been relieved of these armored vehicles, alleviating some of the local concerns.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani responded to the violence by ordering the formation of an investigative committee to look into the deaths and injuries that occurred during the protests. He pledged to bring the "negligent ones" to justice and stated that several suspects have already been apprehended. The findings of these investigations are expected to be disclosed shortly.

The Iraqi parliament's visit to Kirkuk and the subsequent investigations aim to provide clarity and accountability in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded in the city, as authorities work to restore peace and stability to the region.