Unexploded artillery shell causes damage in Duhok’s Amedi

DUHOK — An artillery shell landed on the Amedi-Sile Road on Thursday, causing significant damage to water pipelines serving 20 homes in nearby areas. The incident occurred amid ongoing clashes between Turkish forces and PKK guerrillas along the border region of Amedi, located in Duhok governorate.

The Amedi Mine Clearance Directorate dispatched a team to assess and safely remove the unexploded shell. However, according to officials, the shell had remained at risk of exploding.

In a video shared with 964media by local residents, the artillery shell can be seen embedded in the road. Despite its impact, it did not explode, raising concerns over its potential danger.

“The shell was discovered by several individuals, and our team was promptly notified,” said Regir Besifki, spokesperson for the Mine Directorate in Duhok. He explained, “The shell has not been defused yet, and there’s still a risk of detonation. The damage has already impacted the area, especially as water pipelines serving 20 homes were ruptured, leaving families without water.”

An official security source in Amedi, speaking to 964media, confirmed that intense clashes between Turkish forces and PKK guerrillas have been ongoing for nearly a week. These confrontations have included artillery shelling targeting border villages in the Amedi district.

The source added that such incidents are frequent in the region, with the latest occurring on the evening of December 27, 2024, when a civilian vehicle was struck on the main Amedi-Deraluk road, resulting in significant material damage.

The Amedi-Sile Road serves as a critical route connecting the district of Amedi to Sile, running less than a kilometer from the center of Amedi in Duhok Governorate.

Turkey has been conducting military operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. These operations have intensified in recent years, with Turkish forces advancing up to 15 kilometers into Iraqi territory.

On Dec. 9, 2024, a roadside bomb exploded on a rural road near Bamarne, a subdistrict of Amedi District in Duhok Governorate. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Earlier, on Oct. 26, 2024, an explosion rocked the village of Meristek in Amedi district late on a Friday night, causing material damage but resulting in no injuries. The blast, which echoed throughout the village, caused widespread panic among residents. Meristek is situated in a volatile region frequently affected by clashes.

A report by the Community Peacemaker Teams, released on Aug. 14, 2024, highlighted the toll of these operations, noting that Turkish and Iranian military activities in the Kurdistan Region have led to the deaths of 425 civilians and injuries to 420 others since 1991, with over 83% of incidents attributed to Turkey.