Baghdad intends to summon Turkish envoy after Monday's drone attack
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A high-ranking military authority in Baghdad disclosed that the drone had its source traced back to Turkey.
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Iraq's Arbat airfield, where three Kurdish counter-terrorism agents were killed in a Turkish drone strike on Monday, is mainly used by crop-spraying aircraft. (AFP)
Iraqi authorities said on Tuesday they intend to summon the Turkish ambassador after a drone attack on Monday claimed the lives of six people, including three Kurdish counterterrorism officers at a northern airfield.
According to a statement issued by Iraqi President Abdel Latif Rashid's office, the President has strongly condemned repeated Turkish aggression on Iraqi soil and that the Turkish ambassador will be summoned to receive an official complaint addressed to the Turkish leadership.
"The Turkish ambassador will be called in to receive a letter of protest addressed to the Turkish president", Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the statement read.
"Mercy be on the martyrs of Iraq, the civilian and military heroes killed by repeated Turkish attacks."
Our martyrs are a source of pride and honor for us and their families. May the blood of our martyrs be a debt to the invaders and the traitor Kurds.
— Wahab Halabjaiy (@wahabhalabjaiy) September 18, 2023
#LEXOMAN_PARASTIN #CTG pic.twitter.com/rOu8NcpJdW
A high-ranking military authority in Baghdad disclosed that the drone had its source traced back to Turkey.
Around 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, "the drone entered Iraqi airspace, crossing the border from Turkey, and bombarded the Arbat airfield," which is mainly used by crop-spraying aircraft, said General Yehya Rassoul, spokesman of the federal armed forces commander in chief.
"This attack constitutes a violation of Iraq's sovereignty", he said, adding: "Iraq reserves the right to put a stop to these violations."
"These repeated attacks are incompatible with the principle of good neighbourliness between states. They threaten to undermine Iraq's efforts to build positive and balanced political, economic and security relations with its neighbours," Rassoul said.
This incident marks the fourth occurrence this week of Turkish attacks targeting these areas with the aim of striking elements associated with the PKK.
Two days ago, Iraqi Kurdish authorities reported another breach of Iraqi sovereignty when a Turkish drone strike resulted in the death of a senior PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) official and three fighters in the Sinjar Mountains of northwestern Iraq.
Read more: Iran will face no threats through Iraqi Kurdistan: Iraq FM
For a quarter of a century, Ankara has maintained dozens of military bases in northern Iraq where it regularly conducts operations against PKK commanders and rear bases.
On July 23, the Iraqi government sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council saying that Baghdad documented more than 22,740 violations committed by the Turkish armed forces.
"Turkey has expansionist goals behind the aggressions it is committing, and there will be no security nor military accord with Ankara," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said. "Baghdad's letter included a demand for an apology from the Turkish side to Iraq and its people."
"Baghdad expects the United Nations Security Council to issue a statement denouncing the Turkish violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the Foreign Ministry's statement said.
In spite of appeals for the international community to step in, there has been no advancement in dealing with the repeated attacks.
Following today's attack, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) expressed strong disapproval of the assault on Arbat Agricultural Airfield and urged an end to actions that infringe upon Iraqi sovereignty.
UNAMI condemns attack on Arbat airport in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, which caused a number of casualties. Attacks repeatedly violating Iraqi sovereignty must stop. Security concerns must be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy - not strikes.
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) September 19, 2023
