A Turkish soldier is pictured during an operation against PKK (Credit: Anadolu Agency)
Early Wednesday morning, the Turkish defense ministry announced the commencement of Operation Eagle Claw 2 inside Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkish fighter jets, Cobra helicopters and hundreds of elite Turkish commandos landed at the base of Mount Gara shortly before 3 AM local time in Duhok Province, ostensibly for the purpose of engaging with the Kurdish PKK separatist group. The operation is taking place near the location of FAI field teams who are leading clinical and educational ministries.
Local sources and AFP journalists report ongoing “fierce clashes” between Turkish forces and PKK militia in the villages around Mount Gara. There have been no reports of militant or civilian casualties at this time. The previous phase of Operation Eagle-Claw (and joint operation Claw-Tiger) in June, 2020 led to a standing Turkish presence in Iraqi Kurdistan. There are at least 14 Turkish bases in Duhok Province already, with more to be added when the current operation ends.
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FAI has teams on the ground throughout Kurdistan, partnering with authorities and residents for medical care, education, aid distribution and more.
We would ask the global Maranatha family to intercede on behalf of the Kurdish people and FAI field team members in Duhok province. We pray that the Lord would turn back the Turkish incursion, and that casualties on every side would be minimal, especially among the Iraqi Kurds to whom we minister on a daily basis. We pray for a divine hedge around our beloved Kurdish communities, and that the international community would place diplomatic and economic pressure on the Turkish government regarding it’s ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria. Finally, as always, we pray that a renewed round of conflict would open “wide, effectual doors” to our field teams in Iraq for gospel advancement.
Maranatha.
