President Barzani condemns Qamishlo bombings

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – On Thursday, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masoud Barzani  condemned Wednesday’s  bombings that took place in the city of Qamishli (Qamishlo) in a public letter addressed to the people of Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan).

In a statement published on the Kurdistan Region Presidency website, President Barzani said, “While I strongly condemn the terrorists' cowardly act and brutal assault, we want them to know their brutal acts further unite the Kurdish nation and make them stronger in the fight against terrorism and the enemies of humanity.”

Barzani also expressed the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) readiness to offer all kinds of support to the families of the injured in Qamishlo, the largest Kurdish-majority city in Syria. “We will not stand idly by this brutal act that violates human rights, and we encourage the people of Qamishlo and Rojava continue struggling for their legitimate rights,” he said.

President Barzani also expressed his sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a quick recovery to all those injured.

Wednesday night’s triple bombing attacks in a predominantly Christian neighborhood of Qamishlo left 17 people dead and over 35 injured.

ISIS claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attacks via its social media channels.

In March 2015, two bomb attacks during Newroz (Kurdish New Year) celebrations in the Syrian city of Hasakah  left 35 dead and more than 150 wounded. In response, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delivered an estimated three tons of medical supplies.

Qamishlo is considered the capital of an autonomous Kurdish-run quasi-state which has emerged from Syria’s civil war. The city is mostly under the control of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG) as well as their Assyrian Christian allies (Sutoro Forces).