Erdogan thanks Iraqi, Kurdish authorities for ‘support’ of anti-PKK operation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said that the newly-launched military operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region is conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government, thanking the federal and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their “support” in the process. 

“I wish success to our soldiers in this operation that we are carrying out in cooperation with the Iraqi government,” Erdogan said in an address to the Turkish parliament, expressing his gratitude for the “support” from “the central government and regional administration,” referring to the KRG.

The Turkish president’s remarks come a day after the Iraqi foreign ministry slammed the Turkish operation and summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad. 

Turkey is exporting its own internal security threat to Iraqi territory through its recently launched military operation in the Kurdistan Region, the spokesperson of Iraq’s foreign ministry told Rudaw’s Shaho Amin on Tuesday, calling the operation a “hostile” and “provocative” violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.

Ahmad al-Sahaf, the spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the ministry’s condemnation of Turkey’s military operation, stating that Iraq rejects the use of its lands to settle scores between foreign rivaling sides.

The latest military operation came two days after Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s visit to Istanbul on Friday, where he met with the Turkish president.

Turkey launched a new ground and air cross-border operation against suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases in Duhok province, the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced early on Monday. Dubbed Claw-Lock, the new operation is aimed at PKK hideouts in Metina, Zap, Avashin and Basyan areas, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Iraqi foreign ministry summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Iraq Ali Riza Guney, in light of the recent military operation in the Region, handing him a diplomatic note requesting the full withdrawal of Turkish forces from Iraq.

The PKK has bases in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains, and their presence “comes upon an agreement between the Turkish government and the aforementioned party [PKK],” the ministry claimed, adding that “Iraq has the legal right to take the necessary and appropriate measures.”

Sahaf stated that this agreement between Turkey and the PKK has been repeatedly used to provoke Iraq and initiate unilateral military operations in the country. He also rejected Turkey’s claims that they’re operating lawfully according to Article 51 of the charter of the United Nations (UN), stating that the article does not justify violating the sovereignty of an independent state.

Turkey claimed that it "neutralized" 26 PKK fighters, with the PKK saying it has killed 44 Turkish soldiers. Turkish officials use the term "neutralize" to imply surrenders, killings, or capturing of PKK fighters.

Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border aerial and ground operations against the PKK over the past decade. In February, it launched the Winter Eagle operation against the armed group in Shingal and Makhmour.

Turkey has come under criticism from Baghdad, Erbil, Tehran, and the wider international community for violating Iraqi sovereignty, but Ankara continues to establish increasing numbers of bases and outposts in the mountains of Erbil and Duhok provinces.