Suspected Turkish drones kill five in Sulaimani province: Official

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two suspected Turkish drones targeted a vehicle in Sulaimani province’s northwestern subdistrict of Aghjalar early Saturday, killing five passengers, including at least two members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to a local official, who later updated his figures to Rudaw. 

Hemin Bahjat, mayor of Aghjalar, told Rudaw on Saturday the drones “targeted a PKK base and a Toyota Hilux vehicle which carried four passengers who were all killed. According to initial reports, two of the passengers were locals while two others were PKK fighters.” The mayor later added that another person was killed in the attack.

The dead bodies of the four passengers have been transferred to a hospital for inspection and to be identified, added the mayor. 

Neither Turkey nor the PKK have commented on the incident.

Turkey often targets the PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region, sometimes causing civilian casualties but Ankara has repeatedly said that it does not target civilians. 

Ankara launched a new phase of its Claw operations against the PKK in Duhok province in mid-April. 

PKK media also reported the bombardment, saying that five “unidentified” people were killed in the vehicle.

Aghjalar is affiliated to Chamchamal district and borders Kirkuk province. 

Halo Zahir is a resident of Tutaqal village. He told Rudaw’s Rawchi Hassan that the vehicle belonged to the PKK.

Updated at 3:10 pm