Turkish warplanes targeted several villages in the Amadiya (Amediyê) district of Iraqi Kurdistan on 16 January, causing extensive damage to civilian homes and displacing residents, new reports revealed.
Despite the Turkish government’s official statement that the strikes were aimed at Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases, according to the Firat news agency (ANF) evidence on the ground suggests that the bombed areas consisted of houses and barns belonging to the villagers.
The villagers, who have not been able to return to their homes, are facing hardship and tensions in the region are on the rise. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) allegedly prevent the displaced residents from returning to their villages, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
As Turkish military operations against the PKK continue across the border in northern Iraq, Turkish forces are reported to have targeted a farm and a health clinic in the region on 25-26 January. Alongside the air assaults, Turkey has reportedly deployed ground forces including tanks and artillery, raising concerns about the safety of civilians caught up in the conflict.
Reports also indicate that KDP officials have been advising several villages in the area to prepare for possible evacuations in the near future. This adds to the growing anxiety felt by local communities coping with escalating tensions.