Turkish Drones Threaten Civilians' Lives in Kurdistan Region

Kurdistan 07:38 PM - 2023-08-13

Turkish Drone.

Hassan Ahmed Kishmula was on his way from Duhok to bring home his daughter, who is studying in Iran, but his car was targeted by a Turkish drone before reaching the border. He was killed alongside another father and daughter who were traveling with him.

Hassan Ahmed, Ziad Mustafa Hassan and his daughter Riami were killed in the Turkish drone strike. These were the latest victims of the Turkish attacks, which were all targeted on August 11, 2023. 

147 civilians were killed in the Turkish bombings

According to Kamaran Osman, a member of the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)-Iraqi Kurdistan who spoke to PUKMEDIA, 147 civilians have been killed and 219 others have been injured in the last eight years as a result of Turkish bombings, the majority of whom are from Duhok.

This year alone, 82 sites have been targeted

According to the CPT, Turkish drones have targeted 82 places in the Kurdistan Region during the last eight months of this year, and Osman said that most of the victims are civilians.

MP: One side is acting as a guide 

In response to Turkish drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) counter-terrorism force issued a statement and information about the incident less than an hour or a few minutes later, as if it had been planned ahead of time.

Balanbo Mohammed Ali, a member of the Interior, Security, and Local Councils Committee in the fifth term of the Kurdistan Parliament, told PUKMEDIA: The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is not ready to file any complaints to the Iraqi government regarding the repeated attacks on its territory by neighboring countries. One faction of the KRG is collaborating with Turkey, allowing Turkish drones to target the region.``

"If the KRG complains about the bombings and violations of neighboring countries, the Iraqi government can stop these violations with the support of the United Nations, but the ninth cabinet is not ready to file any complaint," Mohammed said.

There are 64 Turkish military bases in Erbil and Duhok

According to the CPT, there are 64 Turkish military bases in the Kurdistan Region, including 14 in Sidakan and Mergasur in Erbil and 41 others in Amedi, Sheladze, Kani Masi, Bamarne, Deraluk, and Zakho in Duhok, but there are none in Sulaymaniyah.

Around 160 villages have been evacuated.

"So far, 158 villages have been completely evacuated due to the Turkish bombings, most of them in the Sidakan area of Erbil, Zap, and Avashin in Duhok province," the CPT's member said.



PUKMEDIA