This is the same as hitting the leader of the main opposition party in any other country (I am saying "country" because of the de-facto situation in KRG and their independent policies from the Central Iraqi Government) and the fact that he is a Kurd will amplify the outcry. The processes that may start after his immediate death may result in a short time victory, but a negative outcome in the long term.
While he is responsible for PUK's policy as a decision maker he is no more than that. The personnel within his security system are the ones that are moving the PKK-PUK cooperation on the field. While Bafel Talabani is giving the last word he is influenced by his advisors and chiefs within the relevant structures.
While Bafel Talabani is the leader in PUK right now, we know that PUK has at least two influential figures. We are talking about Bafel himself and Lahur Talabani. Bafel is the son of Jalal Talabani (Talabani father), Bafel and Lahur are cousins. After Jalal Talabani's death in 2017 a power struggle started between Bafel and Lahur. It resulted in Bafel gaining the support of many of the influential first generation PUK members, Lahur losing influence and series of arrests against Lahur's men, appointments on critical positions within PUK's security services that are close to Bafel Talabani. Bafel Talabani even told Lahur that he has to support him or leave Iraq. There is a serious rift between the two and the killing of Bafel may make him a "martyr" which would unite PUK strong under Lahur Talabani and he will most probably be the undisputed leader of PUK. He is also a PKK supporter.
Our surgical strikes must be surgical indeed. With our strikes we must ensure that we cripple PUK's intelligence and security, we must ensure that the relevant figures within PUK feel threatened, the morale and motivation within the PUK security services for cooperation with PKK drops, we must ensure that we give the needed message so the influential figures within the security system of PUK tell Bafel "The Turks are not joking, lets make a step backwards", but in the same time not making him a martyr. If we need to go a step further we must start a campaign against Bafel, create a tension around his inner circle, make sure he lose some trust and encourage the further dismemberment of the PUK making it lose influence in their controlled areas because of the rifts.
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