ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey’s air force heavily bombarded three villages in Zakho town’s Batifa subdistrict late Wednesday, dropping dozens of bombs on the area, according to local officials. Dlsher Abdulsattar, the mayor of Batifa subdistrict in Duhok province’s Zakho told Rudaw that Turkey has been bombing the area since midday, but the bombardment intensified during the evening. He estimates that some 50 bombs fell on the abandoned villages of Avla and Pirbla, while some 25 others hit the nearby village of Sila. Biladi Salih, mukhtar of Avla, confirmed to Rudaw that his village was hit by airstrikes Wednesday. Turkey began air and ground military operations in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq's disputed territories a month ago, with the stated aim of removing suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets from the area. A number of villages in Zakho have been abandoned and some others have been partially vacated. Avla was abandoned on Friday after Turkey dropped 26 bombs on the village, hitting five houses. There were no casualties, with the five families residing in the houses out that day. They later opted to flee their homes. Abdullah Osman is from Avla. He and his family of six fled their village on Friday. Now, he is staying in Zakho with his son. Turkey “began bombarding the village in the evening [on Friday] and we all fled it,” he told Rudaw on Wednesday. The Batifa subdistrict is made up of 27 villages, and borders Turkey. At least thirteen of the villages have been affected by the recent bombardments. In Darkar, 25 of 63 villages have been subject to Turkish bombs, according to the mayors of both areas. Several other villages in the area have also been abandoned due to ongoing offensive in the area. Horor Bazib is one of these villages. It is home to 50 families, who haven't been able to visit their agricultural lands, fearing bombardments. Mahmoud Ahmed is from the village. He told Rudaw Wednesday, “we cannot leave the village because we fear Turkey. We live on [the produce of our lands] on these mountains.” Additional reporting from Yusuf Musa in Zakho
