US: Turkey Needs to Respect Civilians in Cross-Border Operations
“When we see civilians placed at risk, it is, of course, something of concern to us.”
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) – Speaking to reporters, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stressed the importance of respecting civilians in Turkey’s cross-border military operations.
At the same time, Patel recognized that Ankara’s concerns about the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were justified, even as he stressed the importance of Turkey coordinating with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG.)
In Tuesday’s press briefing, Patel was asked if the US was concerned about Turkish activities in the Kurdistan Region, including setting up checkpoints and taking the identification cards of civilians.
“This is a big concern for the people living in that region. Is this something that concerns you?,” he was asked.
“In any region of the world,” Patel responded, “when we see civilians placed at risk, it is, of course, something of concern to us.”
He then stressed that the U.S. was closely engaged “with our partners in Turkey.” as he focused on the military aspect of Turkey’s cross-border operations, which are aimed at the PKK.
We “make clear that when such kinds of strikes are being undertaken, that they need to be coordinated with authorities in the Kurdistan Region, as well as Iraq,” he said.
“However, there are,” he added, “legitimate concerns” about the PKK, “and we understand those. But we continue to call for greater coordination to ensure that civilians are protected from harm.”
PKK Targeting Kurdistan Region, Iraq—Part of Iranian Campaign?
On Monday, in a joint press conference in Baghdad, broadcast by Kurdistan 24, senior Kurdish and Iraqi officials announced arrests for fires, set by arsonists, in markets in three major Kurdish cities: Erbil, Duhok, and Kirkuk.
The arsonists were linked to the PKK.
Read More: PKK-trained operatives behind market fires in Erbil, Duhok, Kirkuk: investigations revealed
In addition, the senior officials, Hemn Mirani, of the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Interior, and Brigadier General Miqdad Miri, of Iraq’s Interior Ministry, detailed other plots planned by the PKK, including those that would have targeted Arab areas of Iraq.
They included attacks on the Ceyhan oil pipeline, as well as electricity transmission lines in Erbil, and markets in Sadr City and Shorja, Baghdad’s oldest and largest market, as well as other markets in Arab areas of Iraq.
Read More: Kurdistan Region's markets fires were deliberate, says Iraqi Interior Ministry
It is unclear, however, why the PKK would undertake such acts of sabotage now. One possibility involves Iran.
Tehran has exploited the war between Israel and Hamas to mobilize the militias that it supports throughout the region. That includes Shi’ite militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hizbollah in Lebanon.
They target not only Israeli interests, but U.S. and other western interests as well.
Read More: US Works with Iraqi Gov’t; Expects it to Prevent Militia Attacks on US Targets
Iran has backed the PKK, and, possibly, it has prompted the PKK to add destabilizing activities of its own to the broader regional unrest that Iran is supporting.