As clashes between Turkish forces and the People’s Defence Forces (HPG), the military wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in Iraqi Kurdistan have been intensifying since 17 July, the HPG alleged on Sunday that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was acting in cooperation with Turkish forces.
Claiming that Kurdish forces continue to retaliate against the Turkish Armed Forces’ military actions, the HPG said that 16 Turkish soldiers were killed in the last three days. However, Turkey has only officially confirmed the death of one soldier.
The HPG stated that Iraqi Kurdistan’s ruling KDP forces participated in a joint perimeter operation with the Turkish army in many areas after the HPG’s retaliatory attacks.
Journalist Necmettin Salaz, who is based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), reported on Friday on the clashes in the region, saying that Turkey was bombing Kurdish guerrilla positions from the air while KDP forces were trying to advance on the ground, confirming the HPG’s accusations of the KDP’s collaboration with Turkish forces.
Salaz stated that the bombardment is continuing and fierce clashes are taking place in the region, while several Turkish soldiers have lost their lives.
According to both Salaz and the HPG, Turkey had previously withdrawn from the Zap and Metina regions in the KRI after facing significant resistance from the guerrillas.
However, since 17 July, the HPG alleged that hundreds of bombings occurred in these areas, conducted both from the air and the ground.
