Fresh PKK-Turkey clashes cause power outage in Duhok province: official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region -- Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants attacked a Turkish military base in the Kani Masi subdistrict of Duhok province on Thursday morning, a local official has said, causing a powercut in an area prone to clashes between the two forces. 

A group of PKK fighters attacked a Turkish military base in the area at 07:30 am, after which an hour-long clash between the two ensued, the head of Kani Masi subdistrict in the town of Amedi told Rudaw on Thursday.

The clash caused a powercut that, as of 3:30 pm, is ongoing; it is unclear which side caused the outage, subdistrict head Sarbast Sabri said.

“We do not know about the casualties from both sides but it has caused a blackout, fear and concern among the residents,” Sabri added.

Ankara has not issued any statement on the incident but its defense ministry said on Wednesday that it bombarded the Khakurk and Metina areas in Duhok province, claiming to have "neutralized" four PKK militants. Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” to imply targets were killed or captured.

The ministry also claimed that its forces found ammunition in a cave used by the PKK.

The PKK is an armed group fighting for greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. Its decades-long war with the Turkish state has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths on both sides.

Turkey routinely launches land and air operations against the group at home, in the Kurdistan Region, and in Iraq’s disputed territories of Shingal and Makhmour. It also attacks Kurdish forces in northern Syria, accusing them of ties with the PKK. Both the PKK and Turkish forces have had military bases in the province on Kurdistan Region’s border with Turkey for decades. 

Amedi mayor Ismail Mustafa told Rudaw this week that 23 civilians have died as a result of PKK-Turkey violence in the town since January 2019. 

He added that the population of 361 villages in the area have abandoned their homes due to the decades-long history of clashes between the two forces. 

The PKK on Tuesday released the “confession” of Amedi resident Jutiyar Muhsin, claiming he had spied for Turkish intelligence services by revealing PKK positions and vehicles. However, the family of the detainee denies the claims, calling on the Kurdish group to release their son who has been held since January 29.

Additional reporting by Nasir Ali