SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi military has launched an investigation into an attack on the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region’s Mount Metina, said a spokesperson on Saturday, vowing to hold “aggressors” accountable.
Five members of the Peshmerga forces were killed and seven others were wounded in an “ambush” by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Amedi district early on Saturday, according to the Peshmerga ministry.
“We condemn the cowardly terrorist attack against an Iraqi military unit within the Peshmerga forces on the way to Mount Metina in Dohuk Governorate at the hands of non-Iraqi armed groups,” said Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for commander-in-chief of Iraqi armed forces.
“The security forces have opened an investigation into the incident, and every aggressor against the blood and security of Iraqis will receive a fair punishment,” he added.
The Iraqi armed forces reiterate their “assertion to extend national sovereignty over the entire Iraqi territory and to prevent any breach, whether internal or external,” Rasool said.
The ministry of Peshmerga said the PKK fighters had used light and heavy weapons in the attack.
The KRG also said in a tweet that the PKK fighters “ambushed and attacked” a unit of the Peshmerga forces on Mount Metina in Amedi district, northeast of Duhok.
“The KRG and the Ministry of Peshmerga have previously warned against the violation of the integrity and security of the Kurdistan Region borders to prevent such incidents,” the KRG tweeted.
“We will not, nor will our allies, tolerate threats to the Kurdistan region’s security and stability,” it added.
PKK-affiliated media reported that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) had transferred forces and military equipment to Metina region from Amedi at dawn on Saturday.
The People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the PKK military wing, said it had no information how the Peshmerga vehicle was attacked.
“After KDP forces entered our forces’ camp in Metina region, our forces fired into the sky to warn them, but none of them listened to the warning and continued movement,” the group said.
“After that how they were attacked and who attacked them is unclear because it is not being cleared yet, whether it was a mine exploded or it was an airstrike,” it added.
Earlier on Saturday, the HPG called on the KDP to “not stab the guerrillas in the back”.
“The force wants to go to our area in Metina, while we defend [it] against Turkey, which wants to invade Kurdistan,” the group said in a statement.
