In a statement on Wednesday the Kurdistan Region Security Council said that a Syrian national affiliated with ISIS injured two civilians during the Babylonian-Assyrian New Year celebration Akitu.

“On April 1, 2025, while the people of Duhok province were celebrating Eid al-Fitr and Akitu, an individual affiliated with the ISIS terrorist ideology carried out an attack in a public market using a sharp weapon, injuring two civilians,” the Kurdistan Region Security Council stated.

“The Duhok Security Directorate forces immediately apprehended the attacker, who was identified as a Syrian national. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and once concluded, the findings will be shared with the public,” the statement read.

جەژنی ئەکیتۆ پیرۆز بێت. pic.twitter.com/nJlQLE7ReI

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) April 1, 2025

In a press conference on Tuesday, Duhok Governor Ali Tatar emphasized that “no terrorist organization, fanatic individual, or group seeking chaos can undermine security and stability in Kurdistan.”

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday took to X to congratulate everyone celebrating Akitu.

Also on Tuesday, KRG Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Safeen Dizayee strongly condemned the attack on the peaceful Akitu celebrations in Duhok. 

“Kurdistan represents a beacon of peaceful coexistence, and we will never allow any violence to erode our culture of harmony and respect that unites our communities,” he posted on X.