icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
18 Jun, 2020 15:51

Iraq calls Turkey’s incursion a provocation, demands complete withdrawal of troops

Iraq calls Turkey’s incursion a provocation, demands complete withdrawal of troops

Iraq has demanded that Turkey stop its military operations in the country’s north, where Turkish ground and air forces have begun an offensive against Kurdish rebels.

On Thursday, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Turkish ambassador Fatih Yildiz and delivered to him a “strongly worded protest note” calling Turkey’s military activity in the region a provocation. Baghdad demanded an immediate withdrawal of Turkish forces, and confirmed it has increased border security.

Ankara launched the so-called ‘Claw-Tiger’ operation on Tuesday in northern Iraq’s Haftanin region. It is being carried out against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has taken up arms against the state in an attempt to gain regional independence, and is designated by Turkey as a “terrorist” group. Both still sporadically engage in armed skirmishes.

The Turkish Defense Ministry has stated that its forces have hit more than 500 targets in the first 36 hours.

Also on rt.com Turkey strikes ‘500 Kurdish targets’ & plans more military bases in N. Iraq after offensive – report

The Turkish air force struck PKK targets in northern Iraq on Sunday in a separate raid. Turkey began its sorties into northern Iraq on Sunday, executing a separate aerial raid. Following the bombing, Turkish Special Forces also conducted a ground assault against “terrorist” hideouts. Ankara said the operation is a response to escalated attacks on Turkish army bases.

The Iraqi military immediately issued a statement“deploring the penetration of Iraqi airspace by the Turkish planes” which went as deep as 193km inside Iraqi territory.

Also on rt.com Turkey launches military operation against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq

Turkey often attacks PKK forces, both in its own southeastern region and in northern Iraq, where the group is primarily based. A ceasefire between the two broke in 2015 and Turkey has been organizing cross-border operations into Syria, where Kurds also live.

If you like this story, share it with a friend!

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0