Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned Turkey and Iran for their military operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, calling the countries’ cross-border attacks “unacceptable” in a 30 September press statement.
During his meeting with national security adviser Qassem al-Araji last week, Salih called the two countries’ military activities in Iraq a violation of the country’s sovereignty, Rudaw news agency reported.
Salih’s comments came after Iranian forces bombarded areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) last week where they said Kurdish militants were stationed.
Meanwhile, Turkey has long occupied areas of Iraq’s autonomous mainly Kurdish north, where it maintains military bases used to launch attacks against militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Turkey’s latest operation, Claw-Lock, launched in April this year is still ongoing. As well as running battles in mountainous areas of the country, the operation has seen Turkish artillery lobbing shells at villages and populated areas, with multiple civilian casualties reported.
In one shelling attack that hit a tourist spot in Zakho, Duhok Governorate, on 9 July, nine people including two children died, and 33 were injured.
Turkish drones continue to patrol the skies over villages, striking various parts of Duhok last week while the Iranian shells struck areas near the Iran–Iraq border.
Iraq’s central government has frequently voiced its anger at its neighbours continuing military activities within Iraqi borders. However, the KRI’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party has taken fire for its permissive stance on the Turkish incursions.
