SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Power has been cut off in 76 villages in the Kurdistan Region’s district of Amedi due to ongoing Turkish airstrikes in the area, a local official said late on Monday.
Turkey has launched a new ground and air defensive against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Duhok province, starting from Friday.
Esta’s reporter in Duhok said the Turkish army had set up three new military points in Amedi district. Turkish media reported that commando forces landed in the Metina region from helicopters.
Besides troop deployment, Turkish warplanes continue to bomb areas where suspected PKK positions are thought to be presence.
Director of Kani Masi sub-district Sarbast Akrayee said power had been cut off in 76 villages in the district due to continuity of bombardment and clashes between the Turkish military and the PKK.
“We cannot go to the area tonight because it is a prohibited area,” he told Esta Media Network.
Turkey has conducted numerous ground and aerial cross-border offensives into neighboring northern Iraq to attack the PKK fighters, who maintains bases in the region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the operation aimed to completely eliminate “terrorist threat” along Turkey’s southern borders.
“This operation, carried out with respect to Iraq’s territorial integrity, will contribute to the establishment of peace and security in the region,” Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying.
“We are determined to eradicate terrorism and completely free our citizens from the scourge of terror,” he added.
