Peregraf — Authorities in the Kurdistan Region have suspended the operations of Al Jazeera for two weeks and revoked the work permit of one of its reporters after the outlet allegedly failed to comply with directives issued by regional authorities regarding coverage during the ongoing war, an informed source told Peregraf.
According to the source, the broadcaster’s reporter is no longer permitted to operate in the Kurdistan Region after authorities determined that the channel’s reporting violated instructions related to the handling of security-sensitive information during the current crisis.
The move comes days after the Kurdistan Region Security Council issued a warning to media outlets and public officials against publishing information that could undermine the region's security, as tensions continue to escalate during the ongoing U.S.–Israel war on Iran, now in its 16th day.
In a statement released on March 13, the council said the sensitive security situation facing the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region requires all media organizations, officials, and citizens to act with "the utmost responsibility" when sharing information.
The council added that the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate had been instructed to take action against media outlets that leak sensitive security information or publish what authorities described as "unprofessional coverage" of battles and enemy attacks.
According to the statement, such violations would result in immediate legal accountability.
The warning also extended to government officials, with the council stating that any public figure whose statements disclose sensitive information, assist hostile actors, or damage the region's security could face legal consequences under existing laws.
The restrictions come amid heightened security concerns across the Kurdistan Region following a wave of drone and missile strikes that have accompanied the broader regional escalation linked to the war.
Over the past two weeks, a series of attacks across northern Iraq has killed seven fighters and security personnel and wounded more than 15 others, according to follow-up reporting by the Peregraf Media Foundation.
Those killed include fighters from Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, a member of the regional security force known as the Asayish, and a French soldier stationed in the region.
Peregraf reporting indicates that more than 300 drones and missiles have struck various locations across the Kurdistan Region since the war began, with many of the attacks attributed either to Iran or to armed factions affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of Iran-aligned groups operating inside Iraq.
Regional officials say the tightening of information controls is intended to prevent sensitive military details from reaching hostile actors and to maintain stability during a rapidly escalating conflict that continues to reverberate across northern Iraq.