Iraqi Joint Operations Command condemns Turkish bombing in Shingal, Makhmour

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Monday, the joint operations command in Iraq condemned the Turkish bombing that targeted alleged Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) locations in Sinjar (Shingal) and Makhmour, demanding Ankara to stop the bombing “out of respect” for the common interests between the two countries.

On early Monday morning, Turkish warplanes carried out intensive airstrikes against alleged PKK targets in Shingal and Makhmour, as part of a military operation launched by Ankara called “Eagle Claw.”

“We condemn the infiltration of Iraqi airspace by Turkish planes,” a statement from Iraq’s joint operations command read.

It noted that 18 Turkish planes “headed toward Shingal, Makhmour, Gwer, and Erbil, reaching up to the district of Sharqat inside Iraqi airspace at a depth of 193 kilometers far from the Turkish borders.”

“The Turkish planes approached the Iraqi borders several times last night, and this provocative behaviour does not comply with the obligations of the good neighbour in accordance with international agreements and is a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”

A source in the area told Kurdistan 24 the Turkish fighter jets launched the attack at midnight, targeting several locations in the Shingal district, and several locations close to the Makhmour refugee camp, which has been hosting Kurdish refugees from Turkey.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command urged Turkey to “stop these violations out of respect and commitment to the common interests between the two countries, calling on them not to repeat it.”

The statement also mentioned that “Iraq is prepared to cooperate between the two countries and to control the security situation on the border areas,” without providing further details.

The airstrikes were carried out days after the head of Turkish intelligence services Hakan Fidan paid an unannounced visit to Iraq on June 11, Russia Today reported, noting that Fidan met with Iraqi political and government officials.

Turkish shelling in the border areas, as well as the Qandil Mountains, has become a norm since the peace process between the PKK and Ankara collapsed in 2015. Monday’s latest Turkish aerial assault targeted areas that Ankara claims have become a PKK “den.”

The PKK, headquartered in the Kurdistan Region’s Qandil Mountains, has been fighting an almost four-decade-long insurgency against Ankara which has resulted in over 40,000 casualties on both sides.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany