On Monday, two suspected Turkish attacks—a drone strike on an agricultural airport in Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) resulting in three confirmed deaths, and a separate assault on a Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) office in Erbil (Hewlêr) that left a veteran Kurdish politician, who had spent years advocating for Kurdish unity, dead—elicited a flurry of responses that underscore the gravity of the situation.
The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) issued a strong-worded statement on Tuesday, accusing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of betrayal for its relationship with Turkey. The KCK claims this alliance is the root cause of ongoing attacks and warns that Turkey aims to annex Iraqi Kurdistan. The statement also suggests that the KDP is willing to cede control of strategic locations like Kirkuk for a share of the city’s oil revenue.
The Al-Nasr Coalition leader and former Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi stated that Turkey is occupying Iraq and violating its sovereignty. “This is against international law,” he added.
The Al-Nasr coalition expressed its condemnation of the Turkish aggression on Arbat Airport in Sulaymaniyah province in a statement on Tuesday:
“Turkey continues its aggressive actions against Iraq under various pretexts, and has not faced an effective response to its aggression and violation of Iraqi sovereignty. It is shameful that the silence continues, and it is a betrayal if collusion with the ongoing Turkish aggression continues.
“Turkey is an occupying state in Iraq, and there are dozens of its military bases deep inside Iraqi territory, in addition to its continued violation of sovereignty and interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, which is a neglected issue and a national defect.
“Iraq has several options for dealing firmly with Turkey, and we must change the rules of the game with Turkey in terms of security, politics, and economics if the homeland has value and sovereignty is sacred. This is a serious test for the powers responsible for the state at this historical moment.”
Shanaz Ibrahim, a politburo member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), whose anti-terror squad was the main target in the Sulaymaniyah attack, appealed to the international community to put an end to aerial attacks from neighbouring countries and advocated for the creation of a system to neutralise drones.
Leaders of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar Hakim, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Qeys El Xezeli, condemned the attack on Erbil’s agricultural airport, stating it violated Iraq’s sovereignty and called for an immediate investigation.
Mustafa Chavresh, Commander of the 70th Peshmerga Forces, emphasised that such attacks would not deter them from their duties and urged the Kurdish people to unite against the attacks.
Iraqi General Staff Spokesman Major General Yahya Rasool stated that bombing of Arbat Airport by a drone coming from Turkey is a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and that they “reserve the right to respond”.
Rêwaz Fayeq, former speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament, issued a statement that seems to directly counter Mesrur Barzani’s remarks. Barzani had legitimised the Turkish attack by referring to “unlawful actions”, which was understood to mean the activities of the PKK in the region. In contrast, Fayeq criticised those who seek to justify such attacks, suggesting that they are also complicit in the potential occupation of the Kurdistan Region.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq condemned the drone attacks in Sulaymaniyah, while the KNK stressed that the war is directed at all of Kurdistan and called for strengthening the national line against the attacks.
Tevgera Azadi warned that the KDP’s assistance to Kurdistan’s enemies could lead to genocide and massacre policies against the Kurdish people.
Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of South Kurdistan, stated that such attacks have no justification and are aimed at the heroic Kurdish forces responsible for maintaining security and stability in the region. Bafel Talabani, PUK leader, emphasised that they would overcome this situation with unity and fight against all kinds of attacks.
Ahmet Karamus, KNK Co-chair, pointed out that the attack on the KNK representative in Erbil was a significant crime and held Erbil security forces responsible.
The statements collectively highlight the urgency of addressing Turkish aggression, with multiple entities calling for unity and immediate action to safeguard sovereignty and prevent further destabilisation.
