The Turkish state has stepped up its military attacks on the Amedi region of Iraqi Kurdistan, in an apparent attempt to clear the area of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerillas.
The Turkish occupying forces have been trying to establish their control in the area since 2021, but have been met by fierce resistance from PKK guerillas. Now, masses of Turkish troops are being brought into the area.
Footage, posted by Kurdistan Watch on social media platform X, shows that fighting is underway in Amedi:
Community Peacemaker Teams, an international monitoring organisation in Iraq Kurdistan, reported that over 30 Turkish military vehicles entered the area on 25 June.
On 26 June, reports came in of 300 Turkish tanks crossing the border into Iraqi Kurdistan, and Turkish troops passing through the village of Kesta. Villagers are reportedly fleeing in their wake. Roj News network reported this week that 15,000 Turkish troops have crossed over the border.
The Kurdistan National Congress, an umbrella group linking together Kurdish organisations in all four parts of Kurdistan and the diaspora, reported an increase in the movement of trucks and armoured vehicles through nearby regions, as well as troop movements through villages in Duhok.
According to the KNK, 833 Turkish aerial attacks have taken place so far this year in the Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî), Duhok and Erbil (Hewlêr) governates. Eight Iraqi civilians have been killed.
Despite the civilian deaths, the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) authorities in Erbil gave the green light to the escalating Turkish attacks during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan in April. The deal, which gave de-facto authorisation for a Turkish occupation of Iraqi Kurdistan, was made in return for a raft of economic agreements including on oil, water and major infrastructure projects.
“These Turkish attacks will certainly lead to a long-term war with regional and global consequences. Although it is under the joint responsibility of Iraq and Southern Kurdistan, the Turkish occupation has been facilitated with the knowledge and consent of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party and the government in Baghdad,” wrote the KNK.
“The silence of the Iraqi government due to short-term interests will certainly lead to a long-term war with regional and global consequences. This is because the Turkish government wants to expand into the Middle East through Iraq and thus become a regional threat and realize the strategic goal of the Misak-i Milli (National Oath), as the political, economic and military weakness of the Iraqi State provides a golden opportunity for this,” warned the Congress.
Urging unity against the occupation, the KNK pointed out that Turkey’s occupation of Iraqi Kurdistan “could have long-term consequences, including possible territorial seizures”. The congress urged the US, the EU and the United Nations to take action against Turkey’s illegal actions.
The KNK sees freedom for imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan as key to resolving the conflict. They wrote: “A dialogue process like the one that took place between the PKK and the Erdoğan government in 2013-2015, which was supported worldwide, has the potential to bring stability to Turkey by resolving the Kurdish question.”
