Lahur Talabani

Lahur Talabany, born 1976; Kurdish: لاهور تاڵەبانی) is the Director of Zanyari Agency, one of two intelligence services in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq operating within the framework of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, and director of the Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) special forces group. Known commonly as Sheikh Lahur, Talabany is also a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) Central Council and is a leading figure in the fight against terror.^[1]

Political and military career

From 1999 until 2001 Talabany served as the Special Representative of the PUK to Turkey. Having returned to the Kurdistan Region, he co-founded the Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) in 2002, which was established with the support of the United States Military 10th Special Forces Group and the Central Intelligence Agency. Talabany continues to play an integral role in the fight against terrorism.^[2] Talabany is a well respected and distinguished figure in the Iraqi political, military and intelligence communities. He has devoted his professional career to the Kurdish cause and is seen as a leading figure amongst the new generation of PUK cadres and enjoys favorable standing throughout Kurdistan, Iraq and the wider region.

A staunch ally of the United States and the West, Talabany continues to be an influential and crucial figure in the security and political fields in Kurdistan, Iraq and the wider region. Having established strong foundations with key figures in Kurdistan and Iraq, Talabany also maintains good relations with prominent Arab leaders and influential Western and Middle Eastern states.

Counter Terrorism Group

In response to the rise of extremist groups in the Hawraman area of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Talabany was instrumental in the creation of Kurdistan's first counter terrorism elite special forces. Countering terrorism in relatively few numbers at the outset, the CTG forces have grown in number and are considered a well established rapid response unit. Highly trained and well equipped, the CTG forces under Talabany's leadership have repelled and eliminated countless terrorist threats to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Ansar Al Islam and Operation Viking Hammer

In 2003 Talabany played a leading role in the decisive Operation Viking Hammer to oust the Ansar Al-Islam terrorist organization, which was recognized as a major threat to Kurdistan’s national security. The operation’s success led to the permanent expulsion of Ansar Al-Islam from the Kurdistan Region.

Zanyari Agency

In 2013, Talabany was appointed as the Director of the Zanyari Agency. Upon his appointment, one of Talabany's first actions was to incorporate the CTG into Zanyari Agency. The new framework adopted by the Agency was a historic shift as it was the first time in the Kurdistan Region that a military entity was integrated into an intelligence agency. Talabany has played a pivotal role in unifying the Kurdish intelligence apparatus as well as modernizing Zanyari to better combat evolving national and regional security threats. Since becoming director, Talabany has developed a strong strategic partnership with his counterparts in other services.

Personal life

Talabany is married with three children, two sons and a daughter. He is fluent in Kurdish, English, Turkish, Arabic and Persian. Talabany is an avid football fan and supports Liverpool FC. He takes a keen interest in ancient history and enjoys painting.