In a statement regarding the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs decision to summon Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Fatih Yildiz on Thursday, Ankara argued that Iraq is constitutionally obligated to prevent the use of its land as a base for attacks on neighboring countries.
"Activities of PKK terror group on Iraqi and Syrian soils have been a national security issue for Turkey," said Turkish FM spokesperson Hami Aksoy, according to Anadolu Agency.
Turkish jets bombed alleged PKK positions in Makhmour and Mount Shingal (also known as Sinjar) on Thursday night. Funerals were held on Friday.
More than 20 warplanes, accompanied by drones and refueling aircraft, went 165 kilometres into Iraqi territory, hitting the Mount Qarachogh area in Makhmour for the first time, the ministry announced on Friday.
Three women and a 14-year-old girl were killed in the airstrike on Makhmour, where more than 12,000 Kurdish political refugees from Turkey are sheltering.
“These counter-terror operations will continue as long as Turkey’s security needs require and terror organizations exist in Iraqi soils," the Turkish spokesman added.
Yildiz was summoned, Baghdad argued, because the attacks were a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and the security of its citizens were at risk.
The PKK is headquartered in the mountains of Qandil which straddle the border of Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.
Turkey has previously called the political refugee camp in Makhmour a "breeding ground for terrorists." PKK-linked elements reportedly remain active in Shingal. Earlier this year, then PM Haider al-Abadi called on all foreign fighters to leave Shingal.
“Every kind of support is being given to Iraq in its fight against terror organizations. Same understanding and concrete cooperation are expected from Iraq," Aksoy added.
Despite Baghdad’s objections, they have little ability to stop Turkey, which carries out forays into Iraqi territory on a near daily basis.
The International Crisis Group has tracked casualties since a ceasefire stalled between PKK and the Turkish state in July 2015.
According to their statistics last updated on December 10, 4,226 people in Turkey have been killed in clashes — that includes: 2,400 PKK fighters, 1,138 state security forces, 465 civilians, and 223 youth of unknown affiliation.
The PKK has fought a nearly four-decade, sometimes-armed struggle against the Turkish state seeking greater political, minority, and cultural rights.
The Turkish FM further argued that they are justified to the right of self-defense per Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The Iraqi FM has not released a statement since the announcement to summon the ambassador.
