Terrorist group PKK admits to carrying out drone attacks in northern Iraq's region.
In a recent turn of events, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has taken responsibility for two attacks in the northern region of Iraq, which targeted five Kurdish security personnel earlier this week. Tensions between Turkish forces and the PKK, labeled a terror group by Ankara, have resulted in repeated clashes in the area.
The latest attacks occurred on Monday and Tuesday, targeting Peshmerga bases in Dohuk province, within the autonomous Kurdistan region. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) stated that these attacks were launched using drones.
In a statement released a day later, the PKK claimed that their forces had carefully executed these "minor" attacks to prevent casualties. They justified the attacks as a response to the Peshmerga building a new post in the area, which allegedly blocked a road between the two regions and was part of a plan to "destroy and besiege" their forces.
Kamran Othman, a member of the US-based Community Peacemakers Teams, informed AFP that the Peshmerga were constructing a new post in the Mount Matin area, known for tensions between the PKK and Turkish forces.
These incidents occurred weeks after the PKK announced a ceasefire with Turkey in response to a call by Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan to lay down arms and disband the organization. However, skirmishes between the two sides continue in several areas in northern Iraq.
Turkey has been setting up military bases in northern Iraq for 25 years to counter the PKK's fighters stationed in sites and camps in the Kurdistan Region. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, with Turkey still targeting alleged PKK-affiliated groups in Iraq and Syria.
The PKK has clarified that it does not wish to engage in conflict or war with any party, emphasizing the importance of dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.
Meanwhile, the Kurds are pushing for a federal system in post-Assad Syria. A historic decision was made during a PKK congress held from May 5 to 7, with an announcement about the organization's future expected soon. Some indications suggest that the PKK may officially disband as part of a peace initiative with Turkey, but conditions for a peaceful resolution, such as a secure environment and legal mechanisms for peace talks, must be met.
[1] https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/03052023[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/kurds-push-federal-system-post-assad-syria-2023-05-04/[3] https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/c7b57ab2-b637-4596-a897-acddc4c2275a[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/kurdish-leader-ocalan-calls-for-pkk-to-lay-down-arms[5] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56963718
- The government of the autonomous Kurdistan region, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has attributed the recent attacks in Dohuk province to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which used drones for the attack.
- Despite the PKK's earlier announcement of a ceasefire with Turkey, there have been repeated skirmishes between the two parties in northern Iraq, highlighting the ongoing tension.
- Turkish military bases have been operating in northern Iraq for the past 25 years with the aim of countering the PKK's fighters stationed in the Kurdistan Region.
- The PKK has expressed its desire to avoid conflict or war with any party, emphasizing the significance of dialogue to resolve disputes.
- News reports suggest that the PKK might officially disband as part of a peace initiative with Turkey, but only if conditions for a peaceful resolution, such as a secure environment and legal mechanisms for peace talks, are met.
- The UN and various global news outlets have been closely following the conflict-ridden war-and-conflicts zones in the region, including the clashes between Turkish forces and the PKK.
- Member of the US-based Community Peacemakers Teams, Kamran Othman, informed AFP that the Peshmerga were constructing a new post in the Mount Matin area, a region that has witnessed tensions between the PKK and Turkish forces.
- In a response to the Peshmerga building a new post in the area, the PKK carried out two minor attacks to prevent casualties, alleging that the new post obstructed a road between the regions and was part of a plan to "destroy and besiege" their forces.
- The Peshmerga personnel targeted in the attacks earlier this week were part of the security forces in the autonomous Kurdistan region, leaving several casualties.
- General news and crime-and-justice outlets have covered the recent progress in post-Assad Syria, where the Kurds are advocating for a federal system, as well as the latest developments in the ongoing PKK conflict in the region.
