The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Unit has confirmed that two members of Tevgera Azadi, a political party affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), were severely injured in a bomb blast on Tuesday. The incident occurred in Sulaimaniyah city.

Earlier in the day, a car explosion near a residential project in Sulaimaniyah’s Raperin neighborhood injured several individuals. The counter-terrorism service explained in a statement that the incident occurred at approximately 11:30 am. The vehicle was targeted using an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to it.

The statement identified the injured individuals as Mohammed Khalil and Mohammed Ibrahim, both from Syrian Kurdistan, and members of Tevgera Azadi.

Although no party has officially claimed responsibility for the incident, the Turkish army has previously targeted members of the PKK and affiliated groups. Ankara views the PKK as a “terrorist” organization and has vowed to target it wherever it is present.

In March, Turkey's National Intelligence Organization announced that its forces had "neutralized" a senior member of the PKK in Sulaimaniyah province. The operation captured Rojda Bilen, codenamed Biseng Brusk, a so-called coordinator of the terror group in Iraq's Sulaimaniyah.

The PKK's presence in Sulaimaniyah province has raised concerns among Turkish officials, who consider the group a terrorist organization. Turkish military operations targeting PKK members and positions in the region have led to tensions and security risks for civilians.

Ankara also accuses the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of supporting the PKK in Sulaimaniyah province. In response, Turkey has imposed a ban on Sulaymaniyah International Airport. Earlier this year, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged PUK President Bafel Talabani to distance himself from the PKK, warning, "Our hope is for our friends in Sulaimaniyah to correct their mistake."

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions and security challenges in the region, exacerbated by the presence of PKK-affiliated groups and Turkey’s military actions against them.