Iraq, Peshmerga deny cooperating with Ankara to launch military operation in Duhok

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s foreign ministry and the Kurdish Peshmerga ministry on Wednesday rebuked Turkey’s claims of their cooperation in launching its new military operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region. 

Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara’s recent Claw-Lock operation in northern Duhok province is conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government while thanking the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their “support” in the process.

“We affirm that what the Turkish side’s repeated declaration that there is a coordination and agreement with the Iraqi government in this regard is not true and is a pure claim,” spokesperson for Iraq’s foreign ministry Ahmed al-Sahaf said in response to the claims, saying Turkey’s actions are “hostile and unilateral.”

Sahaf reiterated that the PKK’s presence in the Region “comes upon an agreement” between Turkey and the Kurdish armed group to be used as a “pretext for the continuation of Turkish violations of the Iraqi land.”

Late Wednesday night, the Ministry of Peshmerga denied supporting Turkey's latest military operation, in a statement adding that “the land of Kurdistan and Iraq should be respected.”

Turkey announced the new operation against the PKK, considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, on Monday.

Erdogan’s remarks came a day after Iraqi officials slammed Turkey’s fresh assault and summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad, handing him a “strongly worded” diplomatic note, where the operation was described as “aggressive and provocative,” according to Sahaf.

There has been no response to the note yet.

The Turkish defense ministry on Wednesday claimed that 30 PKK fighters have been “neutralized” since the start of the incursion. Turkish officials use the term "neutralize" to imply surrenders, killings, or capturing of PKK fighters.

The People's Defense Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK, claimed the death of 34 Turkish soldiers, raising the death toll to over 60 since the operation began. Ankara, however, has announced the death of two of its soldiers only.

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.

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.