ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Turkish army bombarded areas surrounding a number of villages near Mount Gara in Duhok province on Friday, according to a local official, leaving locals afraid of further violence.
No material damage or casualties were reported.
The vicinity of the villages of Siyane, Agine and Chamrabatok were bombarded by Turkish forces around 1pm, Shaban Khalil, the mayor of Dinarte subdistrict told Rudaw.
The villages are located in the neighboring subdistrict of Chamanke, but the bombardment has “caused fear” in Dinarte villages as well, according to Khalil.
Rudaw English reached out to the mayor of Chamanke, who was unavailable for comment.
The bombardment was also reported by Rojnews - a media outlet affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Turkey launched Operation Claw Eagle-2 against the PKK in Kurdistan Region’s Mount Gara on February 10, ending it four days later.
The purpose of the offensive was “to neutralize the PKK and other terrorist elements, ensure border security” and to confirm the whereabouts of “our citizens who were abducted,” Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement on February 14.
One of the 13 hostages was from Duhok province and the rest were members of Turkish security forces and intelligence.
The bombardment has not been reported by Turkey’s defense ministry.
In a Thursday statement, the PKK said that Turkey had “intensely” bombarded several places on Mount Gara between Saturday and Friday.
The group reported no casualties.
Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization. The group has struggled for the increased rights of Kurds in the country for decades.
