Iraq condemns Turkey 'blatant' aggression
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The Iraqi Foreign Ministry says the attack on a resort city in Iraqi Kurdistan constitutes a flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty.
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The Iraqi government strongly condemns the shelling of the tourist resort in the city of Zakho
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry plans to appeal to the UN Security Council and give a "maximum diplomatic response" over the shelling of a resort city in Iraqi Kurdistan by the Turkish military, according to a statement at Sputnik's disposal.
On Wednesday, nine civilians, including at least two children, were killed and 23 were injured in a tourist resort in the Iraqi Kurdistan region by artillery fire that Iraq blamed on Turkey. The victims included Iraqi tourists who had come to the hill village of Parakh in Zakho district to escape sweltering temperatures further south in the country, according to Mushir Bashir, the head of Zakho region.
"Turkey hit the village twice today," Bashir told AFP.
🔴 #BREAKING | Turkey has attacked civilians and tourists in the Iraqi Kurdistan city #Zakho with heavy artillery. At least six are dead and dozens injured, including children. Details to follow… pic.twitter.com/bXNvTEiBxZ
— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) July 20, 2022
"The Iraqi government strongly condemns the shelling of the tourist resort in the city of Zakho... and will give a maximum diplomatic response, starting with an appeal to the UN Security Council," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement read.
According to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, the attack on the tourist site constitutes a "flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty" in breach of international law.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that crowds gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad to condemn the Turkish aggression on Iraqi territories.
Baghdad condemns Turkish shelling
Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned the Turkish shelling, considering it a violation of his country's sovereignty and a threat to its national security.
Salih said the repetition of such shelling is totally unacceptable after previous Iraqi calls to stop such actions that go against international law and the rules of good neighborliness.
القصف التركي الذي طال دهوك واسفر عن استشهاد واصابة عدد من أبنائنا، مُدان ومُستنكر ويُمثل انتهاكاً لسيادة البلد وتهديداً للأمن القومي العراقي، وتكرارها غير مقبول بالمرة بعد دعوات سابقة لوقف مثل هذه الاعمال المنافية للقانون الدولي وقواعد حسن الجوار.
— Barham Salih (@BarhamSalih) July 20, 2022
Similarly, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi warned Turkey that Iraq reserves its "right to retaliate," calling the artillery fire a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty.
"Turkish forces have perpetrated once more a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty," he said on Twitter, condemning the harm caused to "the life and security of Iraqi citizens" and reserving Iraq's right to retaliate.
Al-Sadr: 4 escalatory steps against Turkey in response to shelling
On his part, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, proposed four escalatory steps against Turkey in response to the shelling that targeted the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
In a tweet, Al-Sadr suggested reducing diplomatic ties with Ankara, closing airports and land border crossings, filing an official complaint to the United Nations, and canceling all security agreements with Turkey.
— مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) July 20, 2022
The Iraqi leader considered that Turkey has increased its impudence, thinking that Iraq can only respond with a weak condemnation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Coordination Framework in Iraq: Turkish shelling is blatant aggression
In the same context, the Coordination Framework in Iraq stressed that the continuation of the Turkish shelling demands a stance from everyone in the face of this aggression.
In a statement, the Framework affirmed that the Turkish shelling is blatant aggression targeting the state and its citizens under unacceptable pretexts, calling on the Iraqi government to take a quick and firm stance.
Similarly, the head of Al-Fatah Alliance, Hadi Al-Amiri, also called on the Iraqi government to close borders with Turkey and stop businesses of Turkish companies.
In response to the attack, Baghdad recalled its charge d'affaires from Ankara for consultations and summoned the Turkish Ambassador for talks after accusing Ankara of artillery fire that killed nine civilians.
Iraq's National Security Ministerial Council, chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi, also demanded an official apology from Turkey "and the withdrawal of its armed forces from all Iraqi territory."
