ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The rockets that targeted a Turkish military base in Nineveh province on Wednesday night were fired from an area north of Mosul, a top Nineveh official has told Rudaw.
“The missile launch pads that targeted the Turkish military base were found between the areas of Shalalat and Baaweza, in the territory of the Hashd Brigade 30,” Nineveh’s deputy governor Rafaat Smo told Rudaw’s Nahro Muhammad on Thursday.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF,or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) is an umbrella network of Shiite militias, some of which are backed by Iran. PMF militias are often behind attacks on foreign military and diplomatic missions in Iraq.
Four rockets were fired at the Zilkan military base, 10 kilometres away from the town of Bashiqa, on Wednesday night.
The base is home to Turkish personnel. One Turkish soldier was killed and two civilians, including a twelve-year-old girl, were injured in the attack.
The attack took place around the same time as a drone attack on Erbil International Airport.
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani condemned both attacks in a statement.
“I condemn in the strongest terms tonight’s terror attacks on Erbil International Airport and Turkish military base in Bashiqa, and I condemn the terror group behind them,” PM Barzani said on Wednesday. “These recent attacks are a blatant attempt to undermine our security at home and our cooperation with the global coalition.”
“Over the coming days, I will hold talks with Iraqi and international partners on practical ways to make this happen.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has launched an investigation into the Wednesday attacks.
