Unidentified drone crashes near Duhok’s Amedi

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An unidentified drone on Friday crashed in the orchard of a villager near Duhok province’s Amedi town, according to a security source. There were no casualties or damage.

The drone crashed in the orchard of Ibrahim Zala village on Friday afternoon, a local security source told Rudaw’s Hayder Doski on condition of anonymity, adding that the incident took place while the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were clashing in the area. 

Media affiliated with the PKK claimed that the drone belonged to Turkey and was downed during a confrontation with the Turkish army. 

Ankara has yet to comment on the incident. 

The drone was still in operation when it was found, according to the security source.

The PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey but is proscribed as a terrorist organization by Ankara. It has bases in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

Turkey frequently bombards the Kurdistan Region, especially Duhok province, targeting alleged positions of the PKK. 

The PKK on Thursday announced it had withdrawn all its fighters from Makhmour refugee camp in Erbil province. Ankara has bombed the camp as part of its campaign against the PKK.