Clashes moving to urban areas

Nine villages emptied due to ongoing Turkish offensive in Duhok

2024-07-16 | 18:38

NEWSROOM – As the first phase of Turkey’s incursion in the Kurdistan Region nears completion, nine villages have been evacuated over the past month due to large-scale Turkish military operations in Duhok governorate, according to the Community Peacemaker Teams. Following the current operations, a second phase will target the Gara Mountains.

Kamaran Osman, coordinator of the CPT Kurdistan team, told 964media that between June 15 and July 15, the Turkish army displaced residents from the villages of Mzhe, Kafnamzhe, Girgashe, and Spindare in the Gara area, and Miska, Dargale, Shilaza, and Bshile in the Barwari Bala area. Additionally, Demka village in the Batifa area was also evacuated.

The Turkish military has advanced eight kilometers into the region’s territory and established seven new military outposts. Hundreds of Kurdish families in Duhok’s Amedi district face the threat of displacement.

Despite ongoing clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known by its Kurdish initials PKK, in the mountains and villages, CPT reports that the conflict has now moved into urban areas. Osman noted that a confrontation occurred between Turkish soldiers and PKK guerrillas two nights ago in the old cemetery of Amedi.

“At night, the Turkish army sets up temporary checkpoints within Amedi and its surrounding areas. Recently, Turkey attempted to establish a new outpost facing Gara Mount, but PKK guerrillas confronted them, leading to clashes,” Osman added.
Since the early 1980s, the PKK, an armed Kurdish organization, has been fighting the Turkish state for Kurdish rights.

CPT’s Iraqi Kurdistan team has been monitoring the impact of the Turkish operation on civilians. In the past month, Turkey has carried out 381 attacks in the Kurdistan Region: 339 airstrikes, 35 artillery bombardments, and seven drone attacks. Most attacks, 289, occurred in Duhok, followed by Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates with 43 attacks each. An additional attack was reported in Nineveh’s Sinjar district.

The recent operations displaced 184 families and damaged 19 houses and several vehicles. Between January 1 and July 1, 2024, the Turkish army conducted 1,076 attacks in the Kurdistan Region.

Over the years, the Turkish army has advanced 30 to 35 kilometers into the region’s territory. According to Osman, Turkey now has 71 military bases and outposts in the region, up from 64 before the recent incursion.