Turkish military forces have escalated their attacks in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), bombing an Assyrian village and destroying a church, sparking outrage and calls for intervention.
On Sunday, the Turkish military intensified air and ground attacks on the KRI, particularly in the Dohuk Governorate. The Amedi (Amêdî) district in Dohuk was subjected to seven consecutive bombardments, causing property destruction and widespread fires.
The Turkish military targeted the Assyrian village of Miska, reducing its church to rubble and damaging several civilian homes. A video obtained by RojNews revealed the extent of the destruction, with debris piling up around the church and homes severely damaged by the shelling.
The hashtag “#Turkey_Occupies_Dohuk” trended on social media platforms, drawing attention to the increasing Turkish military presence and the displacement of local residents. Iraqi activists and citizens expressed anger and discontent over the ongoing Turkish actions.
Since February 2021, Turkish forces, allegedly in collaboration with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), have launched large-scale attacks on the Medya Defence area and other regions in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Turkish army has been accused of using internationally prohibited weapons, including chemical gases, 426 times since the beginning of this year.
Local residents have called for urgent intervention to halt the attacks and protect civilians and religious sites. However, both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government have been criticised for ignoring the suffering of residents and the military escalation by Turkey in the region.
