STOP making Kurdistan a target for Turkish bombs

[Anthea]

Turkey Bombed Shiladze Dohuk

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Two civilians were killed and another injured in Turkish warplanes bombings in Shiladze border area of the Kurdistan Region on Friday, March 8

The district governor of Shiladze, Rizgar Sarki, told Kurdistan24 that, “Turkish warplanes bombed the village of Dewke in Shiladze, resulting in the killing of two citizens and another wounded.”

The victims of the bombings had gone to collect spring plants in the area.

Saeed Mubarak, born in 1986, and Aras Faraj, born in 1995, residents of Bareske village in Shiladze district, were killed as a result of the Turkish warplane bombing.

Saleh Mubarak, brother of martyr Saeed Mubarak, was also wounded in the bombing.

The conflicts between the PKK and Turkey in the border areas of the Kurdistan Region has had, and continues to have, major impacts on the lives and livelihood of the people in the areas close to the Turkish border.

The conflicts have destroyed nearly 800 villages and several tourist areas, most of which are located in Duhok province. These have caused serious damages to agriculture and tourism sectors in the Kurdistan Region.

According to the latest statistics, 274 villages in Duhok province have been evacuated due to the conflicts, including 250 in Amedi district and 24 villages in Akre district. Meanwhile, 47 villages in Zakho have been evacuated due to the clashes.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/34 ... k-Province

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Iraq to Demand Turkish Troops Exit

Upon PKK Departure:

raqi National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araaji announced on Wednesday that Iraq is taking new measures regarding the presence of Turkish troops in its territory

Araaji stated in a statement that Turkish troops would be required to leave Iraq immediately after the departure of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters.

"The presence of Turkish troops in Iraqi territory is unjustified, especially given Iraq's capability to combat ISIS," Araaji argued during a press conference. He emphasized that Iraq had initiated decisive measures along its border with Turkey, signaling the country's seriousness in addressing the issue.

According to the security advisor, discussions with Turkey have been ongoing, with Turkey committing to withdraw its troops once PKK fighters are no longer present in Iraqi territory. He noted that a committee formed in December to manage security relations with Turkey would convene soon to finalize the resolution.

In related developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to visit Baghdad on Thursday for an official visit. The purpose of Fidan's visit is to coordinate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Erdogan's visit, scheduled for later this month, is expected to address various bilateral matters, including political, security, and trade issues. Discussions will also focus on enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/842376

[Anthea]

Drone Hits Chamchamal Village

An airstrike, believed to have been conducted by Turkish drones, targeted yet another village in the Chamchamal district of Sulaymaniyah province, a day after similar strikes were reported in a different village

The incident occurred around 2:00 pm (Erbil Time) on Thursday, with a drone targeting the village of Chenartu in the Aghjaler district, Hemin Bahjat, the district’s mayor, told BasNews.

“There are still aircraft flying over the area. The extent of the damage is yet to be determined. The border has been bombed multiple times since 2021, resulting in casualties,” the official added.

This bombing follows a Turkish drone strike on the village of Tutaqali in the Aghjaler district the day before, where several Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters were reportedly killed.

Turkey considers the PKK a "terrorist organization" and targets its positions and members in various areas of the Kurdistan Region and northern Syria.

The prolonged conflict between Turkey and the PKK has significantly disrupted daily life in the Kurdistan Region. Ongoing clashes and bombings have led to numerous civilian casualties, prompting the evacuation of thousands of villages. Furthermore, the conflict has resulted in the abandonment of numerous mountain resorts and extensive agricultural areas.

Recently, the Turkish army reported that at least 12 Turkish soldiers were killed, and six others were injured in cross-border operations targeting PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region.

On Sunday, Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler claimed that Ankara has “neutralized” over 2,156 PKK fighters in the Kurdistan Region and Syria during this year alone.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/834672

[Anthea]

Five PKK Fighters killed in Kurdistan

Turkey's National Defense Ministry in a statement on Monday claimed its forces 'neutralized' five members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region

"Turkish security forces neutralized five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq," state media Anadolu Agency reported today, citing the country's Defense Ministry.

The terrorists were targeted in the Hakurk region via airstrikes. We will continue our fight with great perseverance and determination to free our noble nation from terrorism."

For four decades, Turkey and the PKK have been locked in a protracted armed conflict, with deadly consequences that reverberate far beyond Turkey's borders.

The PKK maintains its strongholds in the rugged and remote mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region. These places frequently endure relentless Turkish airstrikes and artillery barrages, resulting in civilian casualties and the abandonment of numerous villages and vast agricultural lands.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/844303

[Anthea]

Peshmerga Killed in Turkish Aerial Assault

In the Sidkan district of the Kurdistan Region, a tragic incident unfolded Thursday night as Sarwar Qadir, a 46-year-old married Peshmerga, lost his life in a bombing of Nawdarok village conducted by Turkey

The ongoing conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continues to disrupt daily life in Kurdistan, with civilian casualties mounting and villages being evacuated due to continuous clashes and bombings.

The impact of this conflict extends beyond loss of life, with mountain resorts and agricultural areas also abandoned as a result. The toll on civilian populations and infrastructure in the Region remains severe.

Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler has claimed that over 2,156 PKK fighters were "neutralized" in the Kurdistan Region and Syria throughout 2023.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/845960

[Anthea]

Fire in Duhok

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A fire broke out on Mount Matina in Duhok province following clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a villager said on Wednesday, with the blaze yet to be brought under control.

“The fire broke out yesterday and has not been brought under control. Hundreds of trees in the forests and farmlands of citizens in the villages have been burned,” Nizar Sargale, a village chieftain (mukhtar), told Rudaw’s Nasir Ali.

The mountainous terrain of the area greatly complicates efforts to extinguish the fire, according to Sargale. Residents of neighboring villages are scrambling to extinguish the fire because civil defense teams cannot readily reach these areas,

Turkey has recently increased its military intervention to curb threats from the PKK along its border with the Kurdistan Region. The airstrikes and artillery fire frequently spark fires, especially during the hot, dry summer months.

The PKK is a Kurdish group that has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state for decades in the struggle for greater Kurdish rights and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Turkey’s Claw-Lock operation was launched in northern Duhok province in April 2022, with the goal of targeting PKK positions in Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan areas. Ankara at the time said the goal of the operation is to remove the PKK from the border areas and cut off its access to mainland Turkey.

Turkey has carried out over 800 attacks on the Kurdistan Region and Nineveh province so far in 2024, according to data from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a human rights organization and conflict monitor tracking Ankara’s operations in the Kurdistan Region.

Civilians are often caught in the crossfire of the conflict between Turkey and the PKK. Many families have been forced to flee their homes in the Kurdistan Region's villages because of clashes, especially those in northern Duhok province near the border with Turkey, leaving entire villages empty. A Kurdistan Region parliamentary report published in 2020 said that the Turkey-PKK conflict has left over 500 villages empty across the Region.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/19062024

[Anthea]

Turkish military build-up on Amediyê border

The Turkish state has been concentrating troop contingents near Amediyê in Southern Kurdistan for days. A large-scale ground operation appears to be imminent

The Turkish occupying forces are moving through the areas controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. For days, large contingents of troops have been sent from Duhok to Amediyê. Last night, a new convoy consisting of 40 armoured vehicles and heavy weapons was observed in the region.

Amediyê borders directly on Metîna and the western Zap region in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in northern Iraq. In the contested area of Girê Amediyê, north-east of the city, guerrillas have been carrying out effective actions against Turkish forces in recent months. On Saturday, an attempt by Turkish troops to advance on Girê Amediyê was thwarted by the guerrillas. On the other hand, the villages in the vicinity of Amediyê are repeatedly bombed by the Turkish air force.

[Anthea]

Sidakan locals insistent on returning

The Turkish army’s bombardment of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in the Kurdistan Region’s north has forced residents of Sidakan district, particularly farmers and livestock breeders, to relocate to safer pastures. Still, they insist on returning to save their livelihoods

Dozens of farmers and livestock breeders went to the mayor’s office in Erbil’s Sidakan district on Friday, determined not to give up their jobs despite the constant danger of air, drone, and artillery strikes. They sought permission to continue working.

They expressed concern about the rising temperature in the lowlands and requested permission to return to the cooler highlands - a more suitable environment for farming and grazing.

“You cannot go to these areas nowadays because they are dangerous,” local Sidakan villager Rasool Shamzin told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar.

Permits have been issued for 1,403 families of livestock breeders, farmers, and beekeepers to enter the region's highlands.

Turkey’s bombardment of PKK positions can be heard daily in the highlands. The situation in these areas is increasingly tense as the Turkish army continues its incursion into the Kurdistan Region

"We warn [villagers] not to visit the dangerous places at all, and they are responsible for going outside the protected area," said Ihsan Chalabi, district mayor of Sidakan.

“Of the total 1,617 kilometers of Sidakan area, 46 percent is no longer under our control, due to Turkey's entry to a depth of 30 kilometers and fighting between Turkey and the PKK,” Chalabi stressed.

The Sidakan highlands are renowned for their fertile pastures. However, due to ongoing fighting and instability between Turkey and the PKK, livestock breeders, farmers, and beekeepers have been unable to access them for two years.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/030720241

As we all know some years ago, vast numbers of the PKK were tricked into leaving the relative safety of their homelands inside Turkish borders and forced to struggle without the support of families and friends in the much small, easily located areas within Southern Kurdistan.

PKK should return to the vast mountainous area of Northern Kurdistan where they belong and should be laying claim to.

Turkey should be shown up for the murdering, land stealing nation they are.

Turkey steal minerals from Northern Kurdistan without putting much of the stolen profits into the Kurdish area.

Kurds are the lowest paid and illiterate percent of the population in Turkey. time they claimed their land back

[Anthea]

Destruction of 37 PKK Targets

Turkey's defense ministry claimed on Thursday that its forces “destroyed” 37 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in the border areas of the Kurdistan Region

According to a ministry statement quoted by state media Anadolu Agency, the air operation targeted senior PKK members in Metina, Gara, Hakurk, Qandil, and Asos. The operation was conducted under the "legitimate self-defense rights" outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

"Using a maximum amount of domestically produced ammunition, 37 targets consisting of caves, shelters, hideouts, depots, and facilities were destroyed, and many PKK members were neutralized," the ministry said. They also assured that measures were taken to avoid civilian casualties and damage to historical sites and the environment.

The PKK, recognized as a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, has been engaged in armed conflict with the Turkish state since 1984. Its strongholds in the Kurdistan Region are often the focus of Turkish airstrikes and artillery attacks, which have led to civilian casualties and the displacement of numerous villages.

In April, during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Baghdad, he discussed with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, the ongoing efforts to combat the PKK. Erdogan stressed Iraq's role in eradicating the PKK and called for increased cooperation between the two nations.

Recently, Sudani reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to tackling “the PKK threat”. He pledged to enhance collaboration with Turkey on counterterrorism efforts, water management, trade routes, and the energy sector in the coming months.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/853231

Many PKK members were neutralized

These are people who have devoted their lives to bring FREEDOM to Kurdistan but since they were TRICKED into leaving their Northern Kurdistan homeland their plight and the plight of all Kurds in Northern Kurdistan has been ignored by the entire world

[Anthea]

Turkish army burns villages in South Kurdistan

Attacks by the Turkish army, which have intensified in recent days, target not only the guerrilla areas but the whole of southern Kurdistan

While the villages of Dergelê, Bazê and Mîska in the Metîna region ended up on fire after the bombardments carried out by the occupying Turkish army, now fires have started in the villages of Mijê, Kevne Mijê and Spîndarê on the slopes of the Garê mountain

The fire started by the bombardment of the Turkish troops stationed in Girê Amediyê in the morning continued to rage throughout the day, spreading to vineyards, gardens and villages.

[Anthea]

Addressing Turkish Attacks

An Iraqi delegation, led by National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araaji, has arrived in Erbil to address the presence of the Turkish army in the border areas of the Kurdistan Region

The visit comes following a recommendation from the Iraqi Armed Forces Commander. This high-level security delegation, led by al-Araaji, aims to discuss the ongoing Turkish incursion of the Kurdistan Region’s border areas with KRG officials.

Lately, there have been reports of renewed fighting between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkish army in the border regions, particularly in Duhok province. On Wednesday evening, the Iraqi National Security Council (NSC) convened in Baghdad to address the Turkish military actions in these areas.

Sagvan Sindhi, Deputy Chairman of the Security and Defense Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, told BasNews that the delegation has already arrived in Erbil.

"Important meetings will be held to further build coordination and security cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad," Sindhi stated, emphasizing the significance of enhancing security collaboration in response to the escalating situation.

The PKK, which began its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984, is designated as a "terrorist organization" by Turkey. The group holds strongholds in the rugged, mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region, areas that frequently endure Turkish airstrikes and artillery barrages. These attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and the abandonment of numerous villages and vast tracts of agricultural land.

Kurdish authorities have repeatedly urged both the Turkish army and the PKK to refrain from using Kurdistan Region territory as a battlefield for their conflicts. Despite these appeals, hostilities between the two sides have persisted

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/853963

Neither the Turkish Army nor the PKK belong in Southern Kurdistan, both should LEAVE

We all know that the PKK forces were tricked into leaving Northern Kurdistan and it's numbers have almost certainly decreased since then

The PKK should be the army of Northern Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Shepherd wounded in Turkish shelling

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Nechirwan Hakim Rasul, a 33-year-old shepherd from the Bradost area of Erbil province, was injured on Friday by Turkish military shelling, as reported by Karwan Mirawdali, the director of civil defense for the Soran Independent Administration

The incident took place at 10:50 AM, and Rasul was immediately transferred to Sidakan Hospital for initial treatment before being moved to Ashti Hospital in Soran district for further care.

Mirawdali highlighted that such incidents are not uncommon in the region. "Every year, several citizens suffer casualties and injuries due to shelling by the Iranian and Turkish military," he stated, emphasizing the continued risk to civilians and the significant economic damage inflicted on the area.

In response to the escalating situation, Yehia Rasool, spokesperson for the Iraqi Commander-in-Chief, announced on Wednesday that the Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, held an urgent meeting to address recent Turkish military actions along the shared border regions.

Kurdistan Region officials frequently urge Baghdad, which has official responsibility for border security matters, to take action and prevent insurgents and foreign militaries from carrying out hostilities within the region. Officials have expressed concerns about the growing presence of foreign armed forces in the area.

Turkey-PKK conflict

The conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has its origins in the Kurdish struggle for self-determination and the ongoing tensions between the Kurdish minority and the Turkish state. The PKK, established in 1978, has been fighting for Kurdish rights and autonomy, which has led to a violent conflict with the Turkish government. This conflict has resulted in numerous casualties and has greatly affected the political, social, and economic situation in the region.

Bolstered by its advanced drone industry, Turkey has ramped up its drone strikes in recent years, particularly in the urban centers of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, to target suspected PKK positions.

The majority of the conflict has taken place in the border regions of Kurdistan, posing a threat to civilian populations.

The conflict has been fueled by a number of factors, including historical grievances, ethnic tensions, and the pursuit of political goals. The PKK, an armed Kurdish group, has been fighting for increased autonomy and rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey.

On the other hand, the Turkish government perceives the group as a terrorist organization that poses a threat to national security and territorial integrity. Additionally, the conflict has been significantly influenced by regional dynamics, such as the Kurdish question in neighboring countries and geopolitical interests in the region.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/35 ... adost-area

[Anthea]

End to Operation Against PKK

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday the imminent conclusion of Turkish forces' operation against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters in the Kurdistan Region and Syria

Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to secure its border with the Kurdistan Region, accusing Kurdish separatists of launching attacks against Turkish territory.

"We will very soon complete the lockdown of the area of operation in northern Iraq," Erdogan said, adding that Kurdish forces were now "incapable of acting inside our borders."

He stated that PKK had been "completely trapped" in both Iraq and Syria, telling young military academy graduates that Turkish forces were "all over them." Erdogan also mentioned plans to "complete the missing points of the security belt along our southern border with Syria."

Since 2016, Ankara has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria.

Turkey aims to finalize an extensive military operation in northern Iraq to eliminate the PKK presence before winter, according to Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Speaking to Turkish newspaper Sabah during the NATO summit in Washington, Güler outlined the strategy to seize the Gara region and complete Operation Claw-Lock, which commenced in April 2022.

Güler emphasized the significance of Gara for the PKK, describing it as a crucial link between the Qandil Mountains and the group’s Syrian offshoot, the YPG. With Turkish forces penetrating areas previously unreachable for three decades, the minister underscored the mission’s goal to sever connections between Syria and Qandil by November.

Highlighting Turkey’s respect for the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq, Güler reiterated that their focus is solely on combating terrorism. The aim is to establish a 30-40 kilometer deep security corridor along the Iraqi and Syrian borders, eradicating PKK strongholds and securing the region.

The recent intensification of Turkish operations in northern Iraq has fueled speculation about an imminent large-scale summer offensive against the PKK. Erdogan has previously hinted at expanded actions to dismantle PKK networks, reinforcing Turkey’s commitment to closing the security loop between Iraq and Syria

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, operates from northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, where the Iraqi federal government holds limited sway. Unverified reports indicate Turkish advancements and airstrikes targeting PKK positions, signaling the operation’s progress.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/854190

[Anthea]

Turkey-PKK tensions displace 184 families

Latest Turkish attacks on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Duhok province have caused the displacement of 184 families, said a monitoring group on Tuesday. It added that nine villages have been evacuated since the tensions escalated last month

The US-based Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a rights group that closely monitors the Turkey-PKK conflict, published a new report on Tuesday, detailing the latest developments related to Turkey’s fresh attacks on the PKK in Duhok province’s villages.

The report said nine villages have been “completely” emptied and 184 families have been displaced since the tensions began mid-June

“Eight of the villages are located in the Amedi district with one located in the Batifa district,” the group said.

“Approximately 68,000 dunams of land have been burned,” it added.

The recent clashes between the Turkish army and the PKK have been focused on the Amedi area, close to scores of villages. They have sparked a wildfire that burned for days, damaging the orchards of Sadiq and other farmers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this year repeatedly said that his country planned a military campaign in the Kurdistan Region to “secure” the border.

Baghdad listed the PKK as a “banned” organization earlier this year.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/160720242

PKK must return to it's homeland in Northern Kurdistan before Turkey closes the borders destroying all hope of an Independent Northern Kurdistan

[Anthea]

PKK Event in Sulaimaniyah

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) organized an event in Sulaimaniyah, raising concerns about the region's stability as Turkey views the party as a “terrorist organization.”

The event, organized by Tevgeri Azadi, the PKK's wing in Sulaimaniyah, marked the 42nd anniversary of the prisoners in Amed. It was even reported by the PKK's official website. Despite the significance of the event, photographs of attendees were notably absent, likely due to concerns over Turkey's reaction.

Speaking to BasNews, political observer Nozhdar Harki expressed alarm over the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) relationship with the PKK, stating, “The PUK leadership continues to have contacts with Qandil and cooperate with them and ignore the movement of the PKK in Sulaimaniyah. They are involved in the PKK's political activities, but they are ignoring all this.”

Harki warned that the PUK's inaction could endanger Sulaimaniyah, making it a potential target for Turkish military operations. “The ignoring of the PKK's movements will ultimately put Sulaimaniyah in danger of Turkish attacks and operations, and in the meantime, the innocent people of Sulaimaniyah must pay the price that the PUK will not give up relations with the PKK for its own narrow interests,” he added

The longstanding conflict between Turkey and the PKK, recognized as a “terrorist organization” by Turkey, the US, and the EU, has had far-reaching impacts. The PKK actively seeks support and funds globally to sustain its operations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently voiced his disappointment over the local authorities in Sulaimaniyah for not distancing themselves from the PKK. Erdogan emphasized that Turkey's stance toward Sulaimaniyah would remain unchanged unless the PUK severs ties with the PKK.

"Unless the authorities in Sulaimaniyah distance themselves from the PKK, there will be no change," Erdogan warned. He reiterated that the air embargo on Sulaimaniyah airport would continue until the PUK alters its relationship with the PKK. “The ball is in their court now. The air embargo on Sulaimaniyah airport will continue. We have informed them that if they take steps from Sulaimaniyah, we will reconsider our position,” Erdogan added.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/854431

It has long been known that the evil Bafel Talabani is working with the PKK to strengthen his illegal control of the PUK