SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi Presidency strongly deplored the targeting of Sulaimani International Airport by a suspected Turkish drone strike on Friday.
“Attacks by Turkey’s military against the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been repeated, and the recent attack has targeted the civilian airport of Sulaymaniyah,” read a statement released by the Presidency on Saturday.
“While condemning these flagrant attacks on Iraq we reiterate that there is no legal justification that allows Turkey to continue terrorizing peaceful and civilian populations under the pretext of the presence of anti-Turkish government forces in Iraqi lands.”
The statement also called on Turkey to claim responsibility, and “make an official apology for these acts, put an end to the aggression as well as find solutions to their internal problems through engaging in dialogue with the relevant parties.”
“If these acts of aggression repeat against Iraq, a firm stance will be taken by Iraq to never allow such assaults to occur again,” the statement added.
A suspected Turkish drone strike targeted the periphery of Sulaimani International Airport yesterday but resulted in no casualties except for causing a fire which was immediately tackled by the local authorities.
Under the direction of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, a top Iraqi security delegation led by National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araaji, National Security Agency Chief Hamid al-Shatri, Counter-Terrorism Agency Chief Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, and Deputy Commander of Joint Operations Brigadier Qais al-Muhamadawi arrived at the scene on Saturday to probe the incident.
The incident reportedly occurred while a senior Syria’s Rojava official was departing Sulaimani airport for Rojava following a meeting with Global Coalition commanders and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) officials in Sulaimani City.
The attack also coincided with the Turkish airspace closure of Sulalimani International Airport over the alleged intensification of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) activities in the Sulaimani governorate.
Ankara’s airspace embargo is based on allegations that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the dominant party in Sulaimani province, supports the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the province, allowing it to operate freely.
The PKK is a Kurdish group fighting for broader rights in Turkey which Ankara, the United States, and the European Union have designated a “terrorist” organization.
