Turkish airstrikes near Shikan village, Sidakan on January 20, 2019.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish jets on Sunday bombed a village in the Sidakan area, very close to town, the mayor said. This is the first time in 15 years Turkey has struck so close to the populated town.
“At 5:20 pm today, Turkish military jets intensely bombarded Shikan village in the Sidakan area,” Ihsan Chalabi, mayor of Sidakan, told Rudaw.
There were no casualties or significant damage in three rounds of bombardments, he said.
“In the past 15 years of military jet strikes, it the first time that this area, close to the centre of Sidakan town, was bombarded,” added the mayor.
Shikan is just three kilometers from the centre of Sidakan.
“At 5:20 pm today, Turkish military jets intensely bombarded Shikan village in the Sidakan area,” Ihsan Chalabi, mayor of Sidakan, told Rudaw.
There were no casualties or significant damage in three rounds of bombardments, he said.
“In the past 15 years of military jet strikes, it the first time that this area, close to the centre of Sidakan town, was bombarded,” added the mayor.
Shikan is just three kilometers from the centre of Sidakan.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that "at least six" PKK members were neutralized in the airstrikes on Sunday.
Ankara uses the term "neutralize" to communicate that its targets were killed, captured, or surrendered.
The statement said the warplanes also destroyed shelters and depots belonging to the PKK.
It claimed the PKK was using the facilities to plot attacks on Turkish military bases.
Update: 11:20 a.m. on January 21, 2019
Ankara uses the term "neutralize" to communicate that its targets were killed, captured, or surrendered.
The statement said the warplanes also destroyed shelters and depots belonging to the PKK.
It claimed the PKK was using the facilities to plot attacks on Turkish military bases.
Turkey regularly carried out airstrikes against alleged PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region mountains.
They usually target sparsely populated areas, but years of bombing have pushed hundreds of villagers out of their homes, made pastures off limits, and destroyed forests.
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