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MORE TURKISH AIRSTRIKES IN IRAQI KURDISTAN

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The latest airborne attacks, part of Turkey’s “Operation Claw-Eagle” have been supported by warplanes, attack helicopters, artillery, and armed and unarmed drones.

Yesterday, Turkish jets conducted airstrikes on villages in the Duhok province of Iraqi Kurdistan, just one of the latest military actions in the airborne and land offensive Ankara has termed, “Operation Claw-Eagle” and “Operation Claw-Tiger.”

Turkey claims that these operations are in a response to “increased harassment and attempts to attack Turkish military bases in the area.” These bases are ostensibly used to conduct attacks on the PKK, a terrorist group fighting for Kurdish political and cultural rights in Turkey, which Turkey claims maintains a number of camps in northern Iraq. Turkey defends its actions by stating that neither the Iraqi government nor the Iraqi Kurdish administration has been effective at removing the PKK insurgents and that they have rights under international law to attack terrorists who are allegedly using Iraq’s territory to stage strikes in Turkey.

The Ministry of Communication published this map of Turkish military installations on their Twitter account July 6, 2020. It has since been deleted, but can be accessed here.

According to Turkey’s Ministry of Communication, Turkey has over 37 installations on or inside of the border of Iraqi Kurdistan, and this has angered both local civilians as well as Turkey’s declared target, the PKK. As the installations moved further and further into Kurdistan, some up to 50 kilometers from the Turkish border, the PKK claims that Turkey is trying to create an “occupation corridor” within northern Iraq.

In the wake of other Turkish cross-border military actions in Syria such as “Operation Peace Spring” and “Operation Olive Branch,” this accusation does not seem so far-fetched.


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In early July, Baghdad summoned the Turkish Ambassador to protest the Turkish incursions on Iraqi sovereign territory, but no stronger actions were taken then or since.

Meanwhile, Turkey continues to carry out the ground and airborne attacks with increased regularity and intensity, mounting civilian casualties and trauma, and deepening military entrenchment in Iraqi Kurdistan.

As Turkey commits itself militarily to intervention in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Azerbaijan, many wonder if there is a broader ambition driving Turkey’s aggressive foreign policy.

In light of these developments, we ask the global FAI family to continue to pray for the peace and safety of the Kurdish people and the autonomous Kurdish regions in both Iraq and Syria. As Turkey continues to violate the borders of Kurdistan, we pray for courage that comes from unity and resolve. We pray for wisdom for Iraqi, Kurdish, and international leadership. We pray for Turkey. And we pray that each instance of crisis and division would open doors for FAI field teams in Kurdistan to show the love of the Prince of Peace.

Maranatha.

FAI