A general view of Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad is seen in the Green Zone where it was moved in Baghdad, Iraq on March 9, 2020. Getty Images.
A general view of Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad is seen in the Green Zone where it was moved in Baghdad, Iraq on March 9, 2020. Getty Images.
A general view of Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad is seen in the Green Zone where it was moved in Baghdad, Iraq on March 9, 2020. Getty Images.
A general view of Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad is seen in the Green Zone where it was moved in Baghdad, Iraq on March 9, 2020. Getty Images.

Protests against Turkish offensive in Iraq begin in Baghdad


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraqi security forces blocked roads leading to the Turkish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday after demonstrations broke out near the diplomatic building, local media reported.

Dozens of demonstrators protested against Turkey's military offensive in northern Iraq, which was launched against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the northern Gara Mountain region this month.

Ankara considers the PKK a terrorist group.

Pictures and videos circulated on social media of protesters holding banners calling for Turkey to leave the country.

“We reject Turkey’s assault on Iraqi land. Turkey out, out,” it said.

The embassy is in Baghdad's Al Waziriya district, which lies outside the heavily fortified Green Zone, where foreign diplomats reside.

Turkey's military operation in the Gara region concluded on Sunday and was carried out to rescue 13 citizens kidnapped by Kurdish separatist forces, all of whom were found dead.

The operation was part of efforts to secure Turkey's borders and find the missing citizens, said the Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.

The four-day military operation began with air strikes and artillery shelling before commandos and ground troops moved in. Turkey said it killed 48 PKK fighters and captured two, while three Turkish soldiers were killed and three were wounded.

The coffins of three Turkish military members killed in Iraq are carried during funeral prayers at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP
The coffins of three Turkish military members killed in Iraq are carried during funeral prayers at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on February 12, 2021. AFP

Turkey has been fighting the Kurdish militant group along its borders with Syria and Iraq for several decades.

In the past year, Turkish forces conducted several cross-border operations into northern Iraq despite protests from Baghdad.

Last June, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Tiger in the mountainous terrain of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

It has used warplanes, drones and special forces. Authorities said hundreds of PKK targets were hit, but gave few details.

Landfill in numbers

• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane

• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming

• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi

• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year

• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away

• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD

Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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