Kurdistan
Smoke rises from Qandil Mountain following Turkish airstrikes on January 6, 2024. Photo: PKK-affiliated media
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s defense ministry on Saturday announced that its forces struck several alleged positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the mountains of Sulaimani and Duhok provinces, and claimed it killed and injured many members of the group.
Turkish air operations targeted suspected PKK positions in the Metina, Gara, Khakurk, Qandil, and Asos mountains, destroying 15 targets consisting of “caves, bunkers, shelters, and warehouses.”
Many PKK fighters were “neutralized” in the attack, according to the statement. Turkey uses the term “neutralize” to denote adversaries captured, wounded, or killed.
The ministry added that the airstrikes were conducted in line with Ankara’s right to “self-defense,” and claimed that precautions were taken to “prevent harm to innocent civilians.”
PKK-affiliated media reported that Sulaimani province’s Mawat district and Erbil’s Balakayati area were also targeted in Turkey’s Saturday airstrikes. The report did not confirm if any PKK positions were hit, but said the extent of the damage is yet to be determined.
The attacks come amid an escalation of violence between Turkey and PKK after the armed group killed 12 soldiers in the Kurdistan Region in late December, and Turkey conducted retaliatory strikes on the PKK and its alleged offshoots in Syria.
Turkish forces often carry out aerial attacks in Sulaimani province, where Ankara accuses authorities of supporting the PKK.
In northern Duhok, Turkey sent its army back into the province in April 2022, launching Operation Claw-Lock with the goal of targeting PKK positions in Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan areas. The operation, according to Ankara, aims to remove the PKK from the border area and cut off its access to Turkey.
Turkish air operations targeted suspected PKK positions in the Metina, Gara, Khakurk, Qandil, and Asos mountains, destroying 15 targets consisting of “caves, bunkers, shelters, and warehouses.”
Many PKK fighters were “neutralized” in the attack, according to the statement. Turkey uses the term “neutralize” to denote adversaries captured, wounded, or killed.
The ministry added that the airstrikes were conducted in line with Ankara’s right to “self-defense,” and claimed that precautions were taken to “prevent harm to innocent civilians.”
PKK-affiliated media reported that Sulaimani province’s Mawat district and Erbil’s Balakayati area were also targeted in Turkey’s Saturday airstrikes. The report did not confirm if any PKK positions were hit, but said the extent of the damage is yet to be determined.
Turkish forces often carry out aerial attacks in Sulaimani province, where Ankara accuses authorities of supporting the PKK.
In northern Duhok, Turkey sent its army back into the province in April 2022, launching Operation Claw-Lock with the goal of targeting PKK positions in Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan areas. The operation, according to Ankara, aims to remove the PKK from the border area and cut off its access to Turkey.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment