Turkish airstrikes on Duhok farmland drive away villagers
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish air force strikes on suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in the mountainous north of Duhok Governorate are setting fire to crops, causing many village communities to leave for the cities.
Lands surrounding Ozmana village, part of Doski tribal territory, have been subjected to bombardment twice since 1991 resulting in fires.
“As you can see the bombardment has had huge consequences,” Salim Zahir, a resident of Navishke village, told Rudaw.
“It burns the crops and animals’ food. What shall this people do? If it continues like this, I believe people will not endure it. This is not in the interest of the PKK or Turkey.”
There are more than 260 villages in both Mangesh and Zawita districts. Many are just 40 kilometers away from the center of Duhok city.
“I hope there are no threats in Nihel, Nerwe, Rekan and Bare Gare regions so that people can have a normal life. This threat may even reach the center of Duhok. It is like a neighborhood in Duhok,” Ahmed Haji Ahmed, a local farmer, told Rudaw.
Jalal Ozmani, a villager, has closely observed the bombardment of Ozmana, Navishke, and Ashane villages.
“I came out to the street and noticed where the missile targeted. When it exploded the ground shook and I thought that the shop was collapsed due to the strength of the explosion. Many kids abandoned the place but I did not,” he told Rudaw.
There have been constant clashed between Turkey and the PKK for more than three years. The victims are the inhabitants of bordering area between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.
Lands surrounding Ozmana village, part of Doski tribal territory, have been subjected to bombardment twice since 1991 resulting in fires.
“As you can see the bombardment has had huge consequences,” Salim Zahir, a resident of Navishke village, told Rudaw.
“It burns the crops and animals’ food. What shall this people do? If it continues like this, I believe people will not endure it. This is not in the interest of the PKK or Turkey.”
There are more than 260 villages in both Mangesh and Zawita districts. Many are just 40 kilometers away from the center of Duhok city.
“I hope there are no threats in Nihel, Nerwe, Rekan and Bare Gare regions so that people can have a normal life. This threat may even reach the center of Duhok. It is like a neighborhood in Duhok,” Ahmed Haji Ahmed, a local farmer, told Rudaw.
Jalal Ozmani, a villager, has closely observed the bombardment of Ozmana, Navishke, and Ashane villages.
“I came out to the street and noticed where the missile targeted. When it exploded the ground shook and I thought that the shop was collapsed due to the strength of the explosion. Many kids abandoned the place but I did not,” he told Rudaw.
There have been constant clashed between Turkey and the PKK for more than three years. The victims are the inhabitants of bordering area between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.