ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's security forces on Wednesday called on Turkey to end to its violations of Iraqi sovereignty out of respect and commitment to the common interest of the two countries, hours after several Turkish airstrikes hit the vicinity of Makhmour camp and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq, causing casualties and material damage.
Sirwan Barzani, commander of Peshmerga forces in Makhmour confirmed to Rudaw late Tuesday that Turkish airstrikes targeted the surroundings of Makhmour camp and a PKK base in Mount Qarachogh. The camp hosts more than 12,000 Kurdish refugees who fled persecution by the Turkish state since the 1990s.
Eight people were killed and 17 others were injured, among them are civilians and PKK fighters, a health official from Makhmour confirmed the toll to Rudaw.
Iraq's Security Media Cell called for a halt in Turkish attacks on Iraqi territory, saying, "Iraq is fully prepared for cooperation between the two countries and to control the security situation on the common borders."
The Turkish defense ministry on Tuesday confirmed the attack, adding that it marked the launch of a new security operation, dubbed "Winter Eagle", against the PKK in “northern Iraq and Syria.”
“In the Winter Eagle Operation carried out, shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots, so-called headquarters, and training camps belonging to terrorists who threaten our country, nation and border security were targeted,” the ministry added.
The attack comes a few days after Turkey released a footage of its fortified bases deep inside the Iraqi territory with its soldiers patrolling the Kurdistan Region's snow-capped mountains.
Ankara frequently carries out cross-border ground and air offensives against alleged locations of the PKK, which it considers a terrorist organization.
At the time of the attack, Makhmour Mayor Rizgar Mohammed told Rudaw that the damage of the offensive "was not known yet." However, Kurdistan Region's counter-terrorism directorate reported material damage and casualties without saying how many people had died, noting that Turkey had hit Mount Shingal as well.
The PKK-affiliated media Roj News also reported on the recent attack, claiming that Turkey had conducted "the largest" aerial attack on Shingal, also referred to as Sinjar, and Makhmour, bombarding the area "20 times."
Turkey has come under criticism from Baghdad, Erbil, Tehran and the wider international community for violating Iraqi sovereignty, but Ankara continues to establish increasing numbers of bases and outposts in the mountains of Erbil and Duhok provinces. Turkey launched an operation targeting the PKK in northern Duhok in April of last year.
The recent offensive was widely condemned by Iraqi officials.
Leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq Qais al-Khazaali said in a statement that the Iraqi resistance "will teach the Turkish occupation tough lessons and force them out of the pure land of Iraq."
Social media users and activists also commented on the attack.
"When it comes to our problem with Turkey and their airstrikes on our homeland in Sinjar, it seems we are alone, it seems Turkey is so strong that nobody, including our Iraqi government, wants to stick their neck out for us," Yazidi activist Murad Ismael said in a tweet.
This is a @NATO member finishing the Yezidi genocide Daesh (ISIS) started. @WHNSC @JoeBiden @PressSec @CENTCOM https://t.co/3DIGIUvkx2
— Tim Hogan 浩勤 (@TimInHonolulu) February 1, 2022
Updated at 12:43 pm
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