VIDEO: Turkey shells PKK-affiliate bases, casualties reported in Shingal, Rojava

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Turkish airstrikes early morning on Tuesday targeted Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliated armed groups on Mount Shingal and bases for the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava).

The airstrikes were carried out around 2:30 a.m. and directed at different PKK bases and its affiliated groups on Shingal Mountain.

The warplanes targeted several bases for the Shingal Resistance Units (YBS), an armed wing of PKK in Shingal, northwest of the Kurdistan Region.

The airstrikes also struck a radio station called the Voice of Shingal, situated on the mountain, which belonged to the YBS.

The bombings hit a total of five YBS bases on Mount Shingal, according to YBS Commander Mazlum Shingali.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Ezidi leaders have repeatedly asked the PKK-affiliated groups to withdraw from the Ezidi-populated city of Shingal and return to whence they came.

Turkey has in the past repeatedly mentioned it will not allow for the establishment of bases by the PKK on Shingal Mountain, which it likened to a "second Qandil".  The Qandil Mountain has been used as a stronghold and sanctuary by the PKK for over a decade.

Kurdistan24 spoke with Zardasht Shingali, the spokesperson for the YBS, who condemned the Turkish airstrikes. He also called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) not to allow Turkish warplanes to enter the Kurdistan Region's airspace. 

“No fighters from YBS have been killed, but one injured,” Shingali added.

However, reports of casualties from Peshmerga bases in the area reveal several Peshmerga soldiers have died and many others were wounded as a result of the Turkish airstrikes.

"Five Peshmerga soldiers were killed, and seven injured," Ramazan Eledni, a Peshmerga Commander in Shingal told Kurdistan24.

He mentioned the Peshmerga forces were guarding a telecommunications tower on the mountain which was also targeted by the airstrikes.

"One of the injured Peshmerga soldier remains in critical condition," Abdullah Ehsan from Duhok Hospital told Kurdistan24.

In Rojava, the airstrikes shelled People's Protection Units (YPG) bases in Derik town (al-Malikiyah) and Qarachokh Mountain, both located in the northeastern Hasakah province of Syria.

According to a statement released by YPG General Command on Tuesday, the warplanes targeted YPG General Command on Mount Qarachokh, a media center, a local radio station, their communications headquarters, and a few military institutions.

Edited by G. H. Renaud