Iraqi President Condemns Turkish Bombing of Sulaymaniyah Airport in Kurdistan Region
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid criticized the recent shelling of Sulaymaniyah airport by the Turkish military, calling on Ankara to halt hostilities and apologize for attacking the area.
In a statement on Saturday, Rashid stated that there was "no legal justification" for such an act and that Turkish military operations against the Kurdistan region continue to take place.
The attack took place last Friday and targeted the vicinity of the airport, but caused no damage or suspension of flights. Turkey has blamed increased activity of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for its operations in and around the airport.
The PKK is a blacklisted terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Turkish forces have occupied areas in northern Iraq, where they regularly conduct attacks against alleged PKK positions without Iraq's consent.
Iraqi resistance groups have warned Turkey about the consequences of its incursions into their country.
Authorities in Iraq said the attack was carried out by Turkish forces and that they were responsible for the deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians, while Ankara said the country’s forces did not attack civilians.
In July last year, Turkish forces carried out a strike against the Iraqi hill village of Parakh, killing at least nine tourists and injuring more than 20 others.