Iraqi PM Mustafa Al Kadhimi issues stark warning to Turkey after bomb attack

Explosion that killed eight tourists in the northern Kurdish region unites Iraqis in anger

Wednesday’s attack on a tourist resort in Dohuk in the semi-autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq drew strong international condemnation on Thursday.

The attack, which killed eight civilians, including three children, also stoked tension in Iraq as an Iran-backed militia group claimed to have attacked Turkish forces in the north and protesters surrounded the Turkish embassy in Baghdad.

Some of the strongest condemnation came from the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who has in the past come in for political criticism for tolerating the presence of Turkish forces in the Kurdish-majority north.

Iraq reserves the "right to retaliate”, Mr Al Kadhimi warned Turkey. Other Iraqi politicians and Iraq’s Foreign Ministry used softer language, saying the issue would be raised at the UN Security Council. Iraq’s Ministry of Culture also said Iraqis must not travel to Turkey and visas were no longer being issued as a protest erupted outside the Turkish visa application office in Baghdad.

Safeen Dizayee, the head of the Kurdish Regional Government’s department of foreign relations, said Turkey should be involved in a joint investigation. Mr Al Kadhimi has already sent a team from the federal government to investigate the attack.

Next week, the Iraqi parliament will hold an “urgent session” to discuss the presence of Turkish forces, who operate mainly from a base at Bashiqa, about 65 kilometres from Erbil.

Meanwhile, Iraqi paramilitary groups linked to Iran appeared to try to capitalise on public anger.

Iran-backed militia Ashab Al Kahf, which has claimed attacks on Turkish and US forces in recent years, said on Thursday it had attacked two Turkish positions with drones. The Turkish military made no comment on the attacks or whether there were casualties.

Iraqi mourners pray over the caskets of a woman and her niece, killed in artillery bombardment of a Kurdish hill village, at their funeral at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf. AFP

Iraqis mourn a victim killed in an alleged Turkish bombing in Dohuk city. EPA

Protesters pray near the old Turkish embassy building during a demonstration against an attack on a mountain resort in Dohuk. Reuters

An Iraqi police car hit during clashes between protesters and riot police. AFP

Security forces stand guard near the old Turkish embassy building in Dohuk. Reuters

Police clash with demonstrators in Dohuk. Reuters

Honour guards carry the coffins of victims, who were killed in an attack on a mountain resort in Iraq's northern province of Dohuk, at a funeral ceremony at Baghdad International Airport. Photo: Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office

Funerals take place at Baghdad Airport. Photo: Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office

Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhemi and Iraqi officials arriving to take part in a ceremony at the Baghdad Airport. Photo: Iraqi Prime Minister's Office

President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani carries the coffin of an Iraqi killed in an attack on a mountain resort in Iraq's northern province of Dohuk. Reuters

The coffins of victims killed in a Kurdish hill village in an attack blamed on Turkey, are lined up on the tarmac before being flown to their respective cities from the airport in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdish autonomous region. AFP

A coffin is carried aboard a military plane for repatriation, at the airport in Erbil, Iraq. EPA

Mr Barzani attends the funeral ceremony at Erbil International Airport of those killed in the Dohuk attack. Reuters

A father stands near an ambulance transporting a coffin of his daughter who was killed in the attack on a mountain resort in Iraq's northern province of Dohuk. Reuters

An ambulance transports a coffin of an Iraqi who was killed in what Iraq claims was a Turkish attack on a mountain resort in the northern province of Dohuk. Reuters

Iraqis chant slogans demanding the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador outside the Turkish visa office in Baghdad, during a demonstration following the attack. AFP

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks to the media after visiting those wounded by shelling at a hospital in Zakho in Iraq's Kurdish region. Nine civilians including children were killed on July 20 by artillery fire that Baghdad blamed on Turkey, a country engaged in a cross-border offensive. AFP

Abdul Ameer Al-Shammari, deputy commander of Iraq's military Joint Operation Command, and Mr Hussein inspect the site of the attack in Dohuk. Reuters

Baghdad accused Ankara of carrying out the strike in Dohuk. Reuters

Riot police and protesters face off in front of a building belonging to the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. The Turkish flag was taken down during a demonstration against the attack. Reuters

Demonstrators gather in front of the Turkish visa application centre in Najaf as they protest against the attack. Reuters

The cross-border offensive left nine civilians, including two children, dead, and 23 others were wounded. Reuters

A riot police officer stands in front of a building belonging to the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad during a demonstration. Reuters

Iraqi security forces take up positions in front of a Turkish visa centre in Karbala during a demonstration against Ankara's military offensive in Iraq's Kurdistan region. AFP

Gen Mohammed Al Bayati, the Iraqi prime minister's secretary, gives a statement after visiting the wounded at the hospital in Zakho in Iraq's Kurdistan region. AFP

A wounded man awaits further treatment at a hospital in Zakho after the attack. AFP

Saman Barzanji, centre, Health Minister in the Kurdistan Regional Government, visits the wounded at a hospital in Zakho. AFP

People gather outside a hospital in Zakho after Turkey shelled a mountain resort in Iraq's Kurdistan region. AFP

Iran-linked militias have previously launched attacks against US military and diplomatic targets in the Kurdish region, as well as Turkish forces.

In Tehran, the foreign ministry spokesman said: "Iran considers the security of Iraq as its own security and will not hesitate to provide any assistance in this regard."

In Baghdad, loudspeakers blared out patriotic songs as protesters chanted slogans demanding the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador, having gathered outside Turkey’s visa office, an AFP journalist reported.

Protesters brandished portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labelled "terrorist" and trampled Turkish flags underfoot.

"We want to burn down the embassy, the ambassador must be expelled," said demonstrator Ali Yassin, 53. "Our government is doing nothing."

'This only happens in Iraq'

There were similar protests on Wednesday night in the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala and in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

Among the dead was Abbas Alaa, 24, an engineer married for barely a week, said a friend who gave his name as Nour.

Alaa was on his honeymoon — his first-ever trip, Nour said — and his wife was wounded.

"We can't believe it," said Nour, who waited with other friends at a modest Baghdad home for relatives to return with his body.

"This doesn't happen in any other country, only Iraq."

International condemnation continued to pour in on Wednesday. Germany said it placed great importance on the “respect for Iraq’s state sovereignty and upholding international law”#.

US ambassador to Iraq Alina L Romanowski said the “killing of civilians is unacceptable, and all states must respect their obligations under international law, including obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians”.

Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office released a statement to “express our support for the Iraqi authorities in their investigations".

Iraq and Turkey are trade partners but Ankara's successive offensives against PKK rear bases in the north have been a persistent source of tension, particularly when they have led to civilian casualties.

The UAE strongly condemned the "criminal acts".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation expressed the UAE's solidarity with measures taken by Iraq to protect its sovereignty, security and stability.

The ministry also expressed condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Iraq, as well as to the families of the victims.