Turkish President, PM to Barzani: attack on Peshmerga a mistake
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim both called the Kurdish President Masoud Barzani on Tuesday, expressing their condolences over the killing of Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers in Shingal, emphasizing that the strike happened by “mistake” and that it was not “intentional.”
A statement from the Kurdish presidency read that the phone calls were made on Tuesday evening.
“They expressed their sadness to President Masoud Barzani over the martyrdom of six Peshmerga and injuring eight who were martyred and injured from the attacks of Turkish fighter jets in against Shingal,” the statement read, referring to Erdogan and Yildirim.
“They emphasized that the incident was not intentional at all, and that it happened because of mistake by the fighter jets,” it continued.
On Tuesday morning, Turkish fighter jets bombed the positions of the Shingal Protections Units (YBS) in Shingal, an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, killing and injuring a number of the their fighters.
The Turkish fighter jets also attacked a Peshmerga position in Shingal that was in close proximity to the YBS units, initially killing five Peshmerga and injuring another nine, two of whom were said to be in critical conditions.
The Peshmerga death toll rose to six later in the day as one of injured died from wounds sustained from the airstrike.
The acting Kurdish Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari received the head of Turkish diplomatic mission in Erbil on Wednesday.
Sinjari told Turkey’s Consul General Mehmet Akif Inam that the attacks against the Peshmerga positions “should not be repeated,” a statement from the Peshmerga read.
Inam expressed his country's willingness to treat the injured in Turkey.
Masrour Barzani, head the of the Kurdistan Region’s Security Council , said the Turkish airstrike on Mount Shingal “was a surprise” and that they had asked Ankara for “clarification” with regards to the incident.
Masrour Barzani told the New York Times that they had “asked for some clarification but have not received any answers yet.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that prior to the attack, Turkey had “informed the US, Russia, northern Iraq and [Kurdish President Masoud] Barzani,” of the attack on Mount Shingal, in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.
The US, who supports the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria, has urged Turkey to respect the territorial sovereignty of Iraq and focus on ISIS.
The Turkish president defended the strikes, saying: "We are obliged to take measures. We must take steps.”
Erdogan said he regretted the death of several members of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, making it clear that Turkey's action was "absolutely not an operation against the Peshmerga."
“The operations will continue until the terrorists have completely been eliminated.”
The Iraqi government for its part called on Turkey to respect Iraq’s territorial sovereignty.
“Turkey shouldn’t violate the Iraqi sovereignty,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a news conference.
The United Nations weighed in on the tragedy, expressing condolences for the deceased and their relatives.
“We are aware that the Turkish Air Force on 25 April undertook airstrikes against targets in Iraq's Sinjar area, reportedly causing casualties among the Pershmega stationed there. We are concerned over the incident
and extend our condolences to the families of the victims,” UN Spokesperson Stephan Djarric told Rudaw.
The UN also emphasized respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.
“We acknowledge the security concerns of Member States, but also remind them of their responsibilities under the UN Charter to fully respect the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference,” Djarric added. “We urge the Governments of Turkey and Iraq to engage in consultations on all issues of interest and concern.”
A statement from the Kurdish presidency read that the phone calls were made on Tuesday evening.
“They expressed their sadness to President Masoud Barzani over the martyrdom of six Peshmerga and injuring eight who were martyred and injured from the attacks of Turkish fighter jets in against Shingal,” the statement read, referring to Erdogan and Yildirim.
“They emphasized that the incident was not intentional at all, and that it happened because of mistake by the fighter jets,” it continued.
On Tuesday morning, Turkish fighter jets bombed the positions of the Shingal Protections Units (YBS) in Shingal, an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, killing and injuring a number of the their fighters.
The Turkish fighter jets also attacked a Peshmerga position in Shingal that was in close proximity to the YBS units, initially killing five Peshmerga and injuring another nine, two of whom were said to be in critical conditions.
The Peshmerga death toll rose to six later in the day as one of injured died from wounds sustained from the airstrike.
The acting Kurdish Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari received the head of Turkish diplomatic mission in Erbil on Wednesday.
Sinjari told Turkey’s Consul General Mehmet Akif Inam that the attacks against the Peshmerga positions “should not be repeated,” a statement from the Peshmerga read.
Inam expressed his country's willingness to treat the injured in Turkey.
Masrour Barzani, head the of the Kurdistan Region’s Security Council , said the Turkish airstrike on Mount Shingal “was a surprise” and that they had asked Ankara for “clarification” with regards to the incident.
Masrour Barzani told the New York Times that they had “asked for some clarification but have not received any answers yet.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that prior to the attack, Turkey had “informed the US, Russia, northern Iraq and [Kurdish President Masoud] Barzani,” of the attack on Mount Shingal, in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.
The US, who supports the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria, has urged Turkey to respect the territorial sovereignty of Iraq and focus on ISIS.
The Turkish president defended the strikes, saying: "We are obliged to take measures. We must take steps.”
Erdogan said he regretted the death of several members of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, making it clear that Turkey's action was "absolutely not an operation against the Peshmerga."
“The operations will continue until the terrorists have completely been eliminated.”
The Iraqi government for its part called on Turkey to respect Iraq’s territorial sovereignty.
“Turkey shouldn’t violate the Iraqi sovereignty,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a news conference.
The United Nations weighed in on the tragedy, expressing condolences for the deceased and their relatives.
“We are aware that the Turkish Air Force on 25 April undertook airstrikes against targets in Iraq's Sinjar area, reportedly causing casualties among the Pershmega stationed there. We are concerned over the incident
and extend our condolences to the families of the victims,” UN Spokesperson Stephan Djarric told Rudaw.
The UN also emphasized respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.
“We acknowledge the security concerns of Member States, but also remind them of their responsibilities under the UN Charter to fully respect the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference,” Djarric added. “We urge the Governments of Turkey and Iraq to engage in consultations on all issues of interest and concern.”