ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The former prime minister of Iraq on Wednesday spoke against the recent Turkish military operation against suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases, calling on the Iraqi government to “expedite” in taking actions against Turkey’s violations and “to end the presence” of the armed group in Kurdish territory.
Nouri al-Maliki, also head of the State of Law Coalition, expressed his “solidarity with the free Iraqi voices rejecting Turkey’s violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, affirming his support for those who were displaced from their homes and churches due to the continuation of the condemned Turkish attacks on areas in Duhok,” read a statement published by Afaq TV affiliated with Maliki.
Dubbed Claw-Lock, Turkey on Monday announced a new operation in Duhok against the PKK, a Kurdish armed group fighting for the greater rights of Kurds in Turkey and considered a terrorist organization by Ankara. The incursion has been widely condemned by Iraqi officials and the government.
“We do not know what the perpetrators of this Turkish war with the wokers’ party [PKK] are thinking?” Maliki added. “When will it end? And will our Kurdish people and Christians stay under the weight of this war, living in unease, dejection, murder, and displacement?” he questioned.
Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border aerial and ground operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region over the past decade, due to which the number of Christians residing in villages and sub-districts of northern Duhok has plummeted.
Last year, 11 Christian villages were evacuated due to the conflict, displacing about 500 families. Some have left to Duhok, some to Zakho, and others to foreign countries.
A Christian family told Rudaw earlier that they had decided to migrate to Australia due to the ongoing clashes between the PKK and Turkey.
Iraq’s foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad, handing him a “strongly worded” note, calling on Ankara to end its “provocative acts and unacceptable violations” in the Kurdistan Region.
However, Ankara alleges that the recent offense against the PKK is conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government and with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a claim rebuked by Iraq and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
Ankara on Wednesday claimed that 30 PKK fighters have been “neutralized” since the start of the incursion. Turkish officials use the term "neutralize" to imply surrenders, killings, or capturing of PKK fighters.
The People's Defense Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK, claimed the death of another 13 Turkish soldiers on Wednesday night, raising the toll of casualties to over 90 since the operation began. Ankara, however, has announced the death of two of its soldiers only.
Nouri al-Maliki, also head of the State of Law Coalition, expressed his “solidarity with the free Iraqi voices rejecting Turkey’s violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, affirming his support for those who were displaced from their homes and churches due to the continuation of the condemned Turkish attacks on areas in Duhok,” read a statement published by Afaq TV affiliated with Maliki.
Dubbed Claw-Lock, Turkey on Monday announced a new operation in Duhok against the PKK, a Kurdish armed group fighting for the greater rights of Kurds in Turkey and considered a terrorist organization by Ankara. The incursion has been widely condemned by Iraqi officials and the government.
“We do not know what the perpetrators of this Turkish war with the wokers’ party [PKK] are thinking?” Maliki added. “When will it end? And will our Kurdish people and Christians stay under the weight of this war, living in unease, dejection, murder, and displacement?” he questioned.
Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border aerial and ground operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region over the past decade, due to which the number of Christians residing in villages and sub-districts of northern Duhok has plummeted.
Last year, 11 Christian villages were evacuated due to the conflict, displacing about 500 families. Some have left to Duhok, some to Zakho, and others to foreign countries.
A Christian family told Rudaw earlier that they had decided to migrate to Australia due to the ongoing clashes between the PKK and Turkey.
Iraq’s foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad, handing him a “strongly worded” note, calling on Ankara to end its “provocative acts and unacceptable violations” in the Kurdistan Region.
However, Ankara alleges that the recent offense against the PKK is conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government and with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a claim rebuked by Iraq and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
Ankara on Wednesday claimed that 30 PKK fighters have been “neutralized” since the start of the incursion. Turkish officials use the term "neutralize" to imply surrenders, killings, or capturing of PKK fighters.
The People's Defense Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK, claimed the death of another 13 Turkish soldiers on Wednesday night, raising the toll of casualties to over 90 since the operation began. Ankara, however, has announced the death of two of its soldiers only.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment