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Six-Hundred And Two Villages In Iraq Have Evacuated, Fleeing The Turkish Military As It Has Already Scorched Thousands Of Acres Of Farmland

By on July 8, 2024 in Featured, General, Highlight

In The Duhok province of Iraq, hundreds of villages have evacuated, fleeing the Turkish military which has already scorched 20,000 dunams (nearly 5000 acres) of farmland.

Turkish bombardment also destroyed two homes and damaged a church:

As we read in the New Arab:

The Turkish military has advanced 15 kilometers deep into Iraqi Kurdistan, targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villages, according to a conflict monitor’s report on Sunday.

The incursion, which represents a significant escalation in Turkey’s military operations, has unfolded amid a conspicuous silence from both Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, raising concerns over Iraq’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.

Ongoing operations have forced nearly 602 villages in Duhok province to evacuate, with villagers fleeing in fear of Turkish army shelling that has also scorched their farmland, according to a U.S.-based human rights organisation monitoring the conflict.

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Last month, Turkey dispatched hundreds of troops and military vehicles into the Kurdistan Region, setting up checkpoints and conducting military patrols in Duhok province’s Barwari Bala area. The recent escalation has instilled fear among local villagers, leading to the abandonment of at least one village.

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“Since the start of the new Turkish military operation, Turkey has conducted 238 bombardments in Iraqi Kurdistan, primarily in the Duhok governorate. As a result of Turkish bombardments, more than 20,000 dunams of agricultural lands have burned,” CPT added.

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Clashes between Turkish forces and PKK fighters have ignited numerous wildfires, with each side blaming the other for the blazes. In Sargale village, about 55% of agricultural land has been burned by Turkish attacks. Turkish military actions in Iraqi Kurdistan threaten at least 602 villages with displacement, with 162 already evacuated, according to CPT.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Baghdad on April 22, marking his first state visit to Iraq since 2011. During the visit, both countries signed a joint security agreement allowing Turkey to conduct military operations against the PKK deep within Iraqi territory. In return, Iraq will receive increased water flow from Turkey.

However, Ankara’s persistent military strikes and ground troop deployments have caused fear among the local villagers of Duhok province’s mountainous regions. Many residents fear displacement due to constant mortar shells and gunfire.

Its obvious that this goes beyond fighting Kurdish terrorists, and is being done with the aspiration of expanding Turkish power and reviving empire. Hence why the Turkish military is active in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. This is the era of neo-Ottomanism.

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