Masoud Barzani condemns Iranian bombardment on Koya

The Kurdish leader emphasized that the Kurdish issue could not be resolved through violence, killing, and bombardment.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Masoud Barzani, the former Kurdistan Region President and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), has condemned Iran’s bombardment of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties’ headquarters in the city of Koya near Erbil.

In a statement released on Saturday, Masoud Barzani denounced the Iranian attack and called on all sides to resolve their issues through peaceful means, not violence and bombardment.

“I am distraught and saddened by the bombardment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (KDP-I) headquarters in Koya city by the Islamic Republic of Iran especially [the bombardment] that left large human casualties and material damages,” Barzani stated.

“I condemn the attack and send my condolences to the families of the martyrs and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded people.”

Barzani called on all sides not to turn the Kurdistan Region into a battlefield for their conflicts because Kurdistan itself faces significant problems and challenges.

The Kurdish leader emphasized that the Kurdish issue could not be resolved through violence, killing, and bombardment. He added that peaceful means are the best ways to address all problems.

The incident occurred on Saturday morning and caused dozens of casualties inside the two parties’ buildings, located near each other. Hospital sources in Koya have told Kurdistan 24 that, so far, 14 died and 42 more were wounded.

In recent years, Iran has repeatedly shelled areas of the Kurdistan Region along its borders, claiming to target Iranian Kurdish opposition groups who have recently resumed their armed struggle after decades of a ceasefire.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany