Turkish airstrikes in Duhok kill dozens of livestock, damage villages

Halgurd Sherwani 2021/06/25 15:06

Dozens of sheep were killed in a Turkish airstrike in the Amedi district of the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province, June 24, 2021. (Photo: Social Media)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – More than 80 sheep were killed in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province in one of five Turkish airstrikes that also caused significant material damage, according to a local official.

Starting at dawn on Thursday, Turkish aircraft carried out raids throughout the day on Spindar and Mizhe villages in the Amedi district in northeast Duhok, Ismael Mustafa, the head of Amedi district, told Kurdistan 24 on Friday.

One strike on a sheepcote killed at least 80 sheep, he said. The shepherd was away from his flock and no people were hurt.

Turkey conducts airstrikes in the border areas of the Kurdistan Region nearly every day as it targets alleged positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). According to the mayor, the PKK’s presence in the area is one of the factors of Turkish aggression towards the villages.

The strikes on Thursday also damaged nearly five tons of hay and silage, he said.

Villagers shared footage with Kurdistan 24 appearing to show that Turkish airstrikes resumed again on Friday afternoon targeting the PKK in Mizhe village.

Villagers shared footage with Kurdistan 24 appearing to show Turkish airstrikes in Mizhe village in the Amedi district of Duhok on Friday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/DrK8CqTAuY
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) June 25, 2021

The Kurdistan Region’s officials have repeatedly called on Turkey and the militant PKK to take their conflict away from the area and spare villagers whose livelihoods and safety is put at risk by the violence.