Shiite leader says Turkish military operation 'injures Iraqi dignity'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Shiite cleric and the head of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement political bloc, Ammar al-Hakim, on Tuesday renewed his condemnation of the latest Turkish military operation in the Kurdistan Region, stating Iraq does not wish to disturb relations with Ankara but cannot accept its sovereignty being targetted.

Speaking at a sermon following Eid al-Fitr's prayer, Hakim stated that shedding light on the newest Turkish military operation was a “national necessity,” as he emphasized maintaining the bilateral ties Ankara and Baghdad share saying Iraq “does not want” to disturb the ties. 

“We do not want to disturb the atmosphere with neighboring Turkey… At the same time, we do not want Iraqi sovereignty to be targeted in this way that injures Iraqi dignity and provokes the people of Iraq,” said the cleric, adding that they reject the use of Iraqi land to attack neighboring countries or threaten their national security.

Earlier in April Turkey marked the start of a new military operation, dubbed Claw-Lock, which aims to target Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) hideouts and ammunition on Turkey’s border with the Region’s Duhok province. The PKK is an armed Kurdish group fighting for greater rights for Kurds in Turkey, considered a terrorist organization by Ankara.

The Iraqi government and officials have condemned the Turkish breach, but Ankara continues its military operation. 

Hakim previously called the incursion “unacceptable.”

Being a key member of the Iran-backed Coordination Framework alongside his parliamentary bloc, Hakim also addressed the current political deadlock in Iraq during his speech, saying it did not serve any parties and that its continuation will result in serious repercussions for democracy and the principles of respecting the constitution.

Seven months since Iraq’s October elections, none of the political parties has been able to form a new government.

The Coordination Framework and their allies insist on a new government being set up based on political consensus, an idea, which has been repeatedly opposed by Save the Homeland Alliance, consisting of the Sadrist bloc, the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), who are attempting to form a national majority government.

Qais al-Khazali, a senior member of the Fatih Coalition and leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq announced on Tuesday that the Coordination Framework will send an initiative to all the political parties during the days of Eid al-Fitr in order to end the political deadlock. 

The Iraqi parliament was scheduled to elect a new president in March but failed to do so on three different occasions, with the last session being adjourned indefinitely.