Following high-level meetings between Turkish, Iraqi and Kurdistan Region officials, Turkish military operations in Kurdish regions have intensified, leading to civilian casualties, targeted killings and widespread concern. This escalation includes a drone strike on a civilian home in Kalar, an attack injuring a farmer in Amadiye and the assassination of a physician in Sulaymaniyah.
As Turkey launched several attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within just 48 hours, killing and wounding several civilians, Nechirvan Barzani, the outgoing president of the Kurdistan Region, has been engaging in talks with Turkish officials with the aim of strengthening ties, and omitting any condemnation of the violence.
On Friday, a Turkish drone strike targeted a residential building in the centre of Kalar, causing the death of a civilian and damage to nearby properties. This attack was directed at a facility linked to Tevgera Azadi, or Freedom Movement, a political party with affiliations to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This incident signifies a heightened phase in Turkey’s military operations, particularly as it involves a political entity legally operating in Sulaymaniyah, despite being restricted in Erbil (Hewlêr).
Additionally, in the Amadiye region of Duhok province, an airstrike injured a local farmer, further illustrating the indiscriminate nature of these operations. The attack on Batifa village highlights the dangers faced by civilians in rural settings amid the conflict. The situation escalated with the assassination of a physician from Turkey in Sulaymaniyah, a targeted killing attributed to suspected Turkish operatives, indicating a worrying trend of selective assassinations beyond direct military confrontations.
These developments coincide with the high-level meetings between Turkish, Iraqi, and Kurdistan Region officials in Antalya, Turkey, particularly following recent remarks from Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Despite acknowledging the designation of the PKK as a terrorist organisation by some countries, Hussein emphasised Iraq’s unique circumstances, highlighting the diversity of institutions within the Iraqi political landscape affiliated with the PKK, including their involvement in civil society and refugee support.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of Turkish military actions in Kurdish regions, marked by airstrikes and ground operations targeting civilian areas and individuals associated with Kurdish autonomy or independence movements. Amid ongoing discussions aimed at strengthening relations and promoting peace, these operations have raised significant concerns about civilian safety and regional stability. The drone strike in Kalar, which targeted a political party linked to the PKK and involved in the very civil society activities Hussein mentioned, was interpreted as a direct counterpoint by Turkey to the Iraqi FM’s remarks.