Nine killed as Turkey bombs holiday resort in Kurdish region of Iraq


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At least nine people were killed in Iraq’s Dohuk province in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday after a Turkish attack struck holidaying families.

The attack, described by Kurdish media outlet K24 as a “bombardment”, hit the tourist resort of Zahko, a popular destination for Iraqis from across the country.

A graphic video of the scene showed screaming women and children, some bloodied by injuries in a cloud of dust in the aftermath of the explosion, echoing a similar attack in January last year that injured two children and was also captured on camera.

Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi accused Turkey of the deadly bombardment, Kurdish news outlet Rudaw reported.

Mr Al Kadhimi called the attack “blatant and flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty and the lives and security of Iraqi citizens”, and said Baghdad reserves the “full right” to respond to such attacks, the report said.

Turkey rebutted claims that it had carried out the strike that killed eight tourists and wounded another 23 people, saying the attack was a terror act.

The Iraqi military said Mr Al Kadhimi was sending senior government officials to investigate the bombing.

Turkey's response
Turkey's response

Military spokesman Maj Gen Saad Maan said: "The commander-in-chief of the armed forces dispatched the minister of foreign affairs, the deputy commander of joint operations, his personal secretary and the commander of the Border Guard forces to the place of the bombing to investigate the incident and visit the wounded."

Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a clear threat to the security of civilians, a number of whom were martyred and others were injured as a result of this act", the state-linked Iraqi News Agency reported. The ministry said the issue would be raised with the UN Security Council.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement extending its condolences to the family of the dead. It said it was ready to "take all steps to reveal the truth" of who is behind the attack.

A source in Turkey's Defence Ministry said he had "no information reporting or confirming artillery fire in this area", AFP reported.

The defence ministry said two PKK militants had surrendered to a Turkish security point at the Habur border crossing with Iraq, about 10km from Zakho, but made no mention of the attack.

An injured man in hospital after Turkish shelling in Zakho. AFP
An injured man in hospital after Turkish shelling in Zakho. AFP

Baghdad on Wednesday recalled its charge d'affaires from Ankara for consultations and summoned the Turkish ambassador for talks after accusing Ankara of the attack.

Iraq's National Security Ministerial Council, chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, also demanded the withdrawal of Turkey's armed forces "from all Iraqi territory".

Riot police were lined up outside the Turkish embassy compound in Baghdad in anticipation of protests against the bombardment, Rudaw said on its English Twitter channel.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (Unami) "strongly condemned" the attack, it said in a statement late on Wednesday.

"The mission expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes the injured a speedy recovery," the statement said.

"Civilians are once again suffering the indiscriminate effects of explosive weapons. Under international law, attacks must not be directed at the civilian population.

"Unami therefore calls for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and emphasises that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq must be respected at all times."

Regular military operations

Turkey has conducted regular military operations in northern Iraq, part of a four-decade battle against Kurdish separatist militias, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

In the past, Turkish operations in Iraq would last for months, but since 2016 Turkey has established a permanent military presence in Bashiqa, about 75 kilometres from Dohuk.

While the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is opposed to PKK operations, it maintains strong diplomatic and economic links to Ankara. The separatist PKK has also clashed with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, a paramilitary force under KRG control, which often co-ordinates with Iraqi government forces.

Continuing Turkish military operations have led to increasing anger from Iraqi nationalist parties in Baghdad and some militia groups linked to Iran, who have in recent months launched attacks against Turkish forces.

In June, a Turkish air strike in the northern Iraqi city of Sinjar killed a 12-year-old boy.

In southern Iraq, there was mounting anger on Wednesday evening as details emerged of the casualties, who were mainly from the south, Zahko mayor Mushir Muhammad Bashir told the Iraqi News Agency.

Basra Today, a popular social media account on Twitter from the southern port city, "called on citizens to set a date for a protest in front of the Turkish Consulate in Basra".

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

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ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

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