ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey on Wednesday called on the Iraqi government to protect Ankara’s diplomatic missions in the country following a rocket attack that targeted the Turkish consulate in Mosul.
“At least four rockets” landed within the perimeter of the consulate north of the country early Wednesday without causing casualties, Nineveh province MP Sherwan Dubardani told Rudaw English.
However, a number of vehicles and houses were damaged in the attack, Dubardani added.
“We condemn this attack, in which no casualties were reported, in the strongest terms and expect those responsible to be brought to justice as soon as possible. We firmly request from the Iraqi authorities to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting diplomatic and consular missions,” read a statement from the Turkish foreign ministry.
The statement called on the Iraqi authorities to “put an end to terrorist presence on their territory,” referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which Ankara has designated as a terrorist organization.
The attack coincided with the UN Security Council’s emergency meeting that was held to discuss the dispute between Baghdad and Ankara following last week’s deadly Zakho shelling that claimed the lives of nine people and left over 30 others injured.
The session was held upon the request of the Iraqi government, which accused Turkey of the attack. Ankara has denied involvement.
During the body’s meeting, Turkey's Deputy Permanent Representative Oncu Keceli broke the news of the attack on the consulate in Mosul saying it is an example of the Iraqi authorities' “lack of control” over their own territory.
In response, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that they will investigate the attack, adding that it is their obligation to protect diplomatic envoys in Iraq.
The attack on Turkey's Mosul consulate comes a week after enraged Iraqis buried their loved ones and called for the expulsion of the Turkish ambassadors and the boycott of products imported from Turkey in protests across several provinces in Iraq.
Keceli renewed Turkey’s rejection of being involved in the attack, instead blaming the PKK and criticizing the Iraqi government’s failure to protect its sovereignty.
“Iraq has so far proven to be either unable or unwilling” to fight the PKK, said Keceli during the emergency meeting. “If you cannot control your own country if you are unwilling to fight against the terrorists … then you are siding either directly or indirectly with the terrorists,” he added referring to the PKK which Ankara has designated a terrorist organization.
Ankara has established an increasing number of bases and outposts in the Kurdistan Region, claiming that its presence is aimed at cutting off the path of the PKK and preventing them from crossing into the Kurdish areas of southeast Turkey.
Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist organization and launched a military operation against the group in Duhok province in April, claiming to target PKK hideouts in the province’s mountainous areas.
“At least four rockets” landed within the perimeter of the consulate north of the country early Wednesday without causing casualties, Nineveh province MP Sherwan Dubardani told Rudaw English.
However, a number of vehicles and houses were damaged in the attack, Dubardani added.
“We condemn this attack, in which no casualties were reported, in the strongest terms and expect those responsible to be brought to justice as soon as possible. We firmly request from the Iraqi authorities to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting diplomatic and consular missions,” read a statement from the Turkish foreign ministry.
The statement called on the Iraqi authorities to “put an end to terrorist presence on their territory,” referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which Ankara has designated as a terrorist organization.
The attack coincided with the UN Security Council’s emergency meeting that was held to discuss the dispute between Baghdad and Ankara following last week’s deadly Zakho shelling that claimed the lives of nine people and left over 30 others injured.
The session was held upon the request of the Iraqi government, which accused Turkey of the attack. Ankara has denied involvement.
During the body’s meeting, Turkey's Deputy Permanent Representative Oncu Keceli broke the news of the attack on the consulate in Mosul saying it is an example of the Iraqi authorities' “lack of control” over their own territory.
In response, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that they will investigate the attack, adding that it is their obligation to protect diplomatic envoys in Iraq.
The attack on Turkey's Mosul consulate comes a week after enraged Iraqis buried their loved ones and called for the expulsion of the Turkish ambassadors and the boycott of products imported from Turkey in protests across several provinces in Iraq.
Keceli renewed Turkey’s rejection of being involved in the attack, instead blaming the PKK and criticizing the Iraqi government’s failure to protect its sovereignty.
“Iraq has so far proven to be either unable or unwilling” to fight the PKK, said Keceli during the emergency meeting. “If you cannot control your own country if you are unwilling to fight against the terrorists … then you are siding either directly or indirectly with the terrorists,” he added referring to the PKK which Ankara has designated a terrorist organization.
Ankara has established an increasing number of bases and outposts in the Kurdistan Region, claiming that its presence is aimed at cutting off the path of the PKK and preventing them from crossing into the Kurdish areas of southeast Turkey.
Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist organization and launched a military operation against the group in Duhok province in April, claiming to target PKK hideouts in the province’s mountainous areas.
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