Turkish intelligence kills PKK commander in Sulaimani province: State media

Karwan Faidhi Dri

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) was behind last month’s drone attack in Sulaimani province’s northwestern subdistrict of Aghjalar, Turkish state media reported on Thursday, claiming that a Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) commander was killed in the attack.

Two drones targeted a Toyota Hilux vehicle in Aghjalar on May 21, killing five passengers, including at least two members of the PKK, mayor Hemin Bahjat told Rudaw at the time. The attack was condemned by Sulaimani province’s ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). 

Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency said on Thursday that the attack was carried out by MIT, claiming that Mehmet Dogan, code-named Dilkhwaz Gabar, commander of PKK forces in Kirkuk and Makhmour, was killed. However, the PKK has not confirmed his death.

On the same day of the Aghjalar attack, a Turkish drone targeted a vehicle in the PKK-held Makhmour camp and killed Mehmet Erdogan, commander of PKK, reported Anadolu Agency two days later.

Aghjalar is part of Chamchamal district and borders Kirkuk province. 

Gabar told PKK media on May 23, 2020 that the Turkish government was not working towards making peace with the Kurdish group, but rather sought war “to stay in power.”

Turkey often targets PKK positions at home and in the Kurdistan Region. It launched a new phase of its Claw operations against the PKK in Duhok province in mid-April. 

The PKK is an armed Kurdish group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers it a terrorist organization and a threat to its national security.