Shafaq News– KirkukOn Saturday, dozens of residents in the predominantlyKurdish Rahima neighborhood of Kirkuk, northern Iraq, protested in solidaritywith Kurds in Syria and rejected the ongoing military confrontations thatkilled at least 10 civilians and injured 100.Protesters raised banners calling for an immediate halt tofighting in Kurdish neighborhoods (Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo), thewithdrawal of forces from residential areas, and international protection forKurdish civilians amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions.Mohammed Rashid, one of the participants, told Shafaq Newsthat Kurds in Kirkuk are closely following events and are calling for animmediate “end to violence” and for residential areas to be kept out ofmilitary conflicts.Another protester, Rezkar Karkuki, said “the protestconveyed a humanitarian and national message rather than targeting any specificparty.” He added that demonstrators are demanding an end to military operationsinside residential neighborhoods, guarantees for civilian safety, and peacefulsolutions to prevent further displacement and suffering.Hundreds of residents in Al-Sulaymaniyah organized a similaraction, condemning the shelling that targeted Kurdish areas in Syria.Earlier today, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced thelaunch of a security operation in Sheikh Maqsoud, while the Kurdish InternalSecurity Forces (Asayish) reported heavy street fighting in parts of theneighborhood, accusing Syrian forces of shelling the area with artillery anddeploying tanks.