Conflict rages

Turkish military operations ignite fires in Duhok’s Amedi district, residents report

2024-08-07 | 16:43

AMEDI — This morning, residents of villages near the Deraluk area in the Amedi district of Duhok reported hearing loud sounds and observing fires after Turkish helicopters were seen overhead. According to witnesses, the disturbances were followed by multiple fires breaking out.

Witnesses told 964media that Turkish helicopters targeted the villages of Blava and Guharze, which are often sites of conflict due to ongoing tensions between Turkish forces and the PKK.

Ahmed Guharze, the mukhtar (village head) of Guharze, stated, “This morning, Turkish military helicopters bombarded several locations around our village. The fires have reached the outskirts of the village, posing a significant threat.”

He highlighted ongoing challenges in firefighting efforts, noting, “Security forces are preventing our young men from trying to control the fires, citing danger. Several dunams of land have already been destroyed.”

The situation remains volatile with continuous drone activity and the sound of helicopters. A significant explosion was reported this afternoon in the village of Dere, about six kilometers from Guharze, leading to another fire. Residents suspect the explosion was caused by a falling drone.

Villagers from Dere reported hearing a loud noise followed by the sight of a drone plummeting, which quickly ignited a large fire. The village, located in the Deraluk sub-district and predominantly inhabited by Christians, sustained considerable damage.

Turkey’s ongoing military operations in the Duhok governorate against the PKK have led to the evacuation of several villages. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which seeks greater Kurdish rights, has persisted since the early 1980s.