ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish airstrikes on Tuesday hit northern Duhok province, an official told Rudaw. The area sees frequent intense clashes between Turkish forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “It was Turkish airstrikes” that targeted Shelaza village in the Kani Masi area, mayor Sarbast Sabri told Rudaw. The outskirts of the village were bombed three times between 10 am and noon. “Civilians were not hit in the bombardment,” Sabri said, but does not yet have information of material damage. In April, Turkey launched the twin operations Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt in northern Duhok against the PKK, an armed group fighting for greater rights for Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers it a terrorist organization and has regularly pursued the group across the border. Civilian populations and the environment have been severely impacted by the conflict. Thousands of acres of land have been scorched, and people’s houses and livestock have been hit. Several civilians have been killed and one family in Hirore is suffering from health problems following a suspected chemical attack. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly called on Turkey to respect its sovereignty and for the PKK to cease using Kurdistan Region territory to launch attacks on its neighbor. Additional reporting by Nasr Ali
