Nine tourists martyred during Turkish bombardment in Zakho

Kurdistan 04:35 PM - 2022-07-20

Turkish forces bombed a tourist resort in Duhok’s Zakho district, Nine tourists were martyred and 23 others were injured.

"The bombardment targeted Parakhe resort in Zakho administration packed with Iraqi tourists from the central and southern provinces," our correspondent said.

"The injured were transferred to Zakho hospital for treatment," he added.

The casualties are tourists who arrived in the areas from Iraq's central and southern provinces.

The toll is expected to increase.  Turkey launched its latest operation dubbed Operation Claw-Clock on April 18 targeting PKK hideouts in the mountainous areas of Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan in Duhok province. The operation is the fourth stage of Ankara’s Claw operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region, with the first stage starting in 2019.

The Turkish forces continue their security operations in the areas of the Kurdistan Region, despite official appeals from Baghdad to Ankara to stop its aggression.

Turkey has carried out cross-border offensives of varying magnitude allegedly against the PKK for decades. However, in recent years, it's begun to establish more of a sustained presence in a growing number of bases and checkpoints dotting the mountains of the Kurdistan Region despite calls from Iraqi authorities to stop these actions. 

Thousands of acres of land have been burnt and many villages have been evacuated due to Turkish bombings, and even civilian casualties have fallen due to the continuous Turkish operations in the Kurdistan Region.  

 

The moment a Turkish artillery shelling hits a touristic location in Zakho district of Duhok. Eight tourists were killed and 23 others injured. pic.twitter.com/QDuYW3O5og

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