Turkey launches new operation in Duhok province

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey deployed forces to Duhok province’s Gara Mountain on Wednesday, launching a fresh operation against suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in the area, the Turkish defense ministry announced.

According to PKK-affiliated Firat News Agency (ANF), violent clashes are taking place between guerilla fighters and Turkish soldiers deployed to the Gara area. Turkey has been “heavily” bombing the area since 3:00 am Wednesday morning, according to the outlet. 

The ministry said it launched the attack, dubbed Operation Claw-Eagle 2, as a result of the continued PKK presence in the area.

The PKK is an armed group fighting for increased rights for Turkey's Kurdish minority, and has bases in the Kurdistan Region's Qandil mountains.

Turkey bombarded villages multiple times on Wednesday morning in the sub-districts of Chamanke and Dinarte, Shaaban Khalil, director of Dinarte sub-district in Duhok told Rudaw in a video message on Wednesday.

Turkey regularly carries out airstrikes and ground operations in the Kurdistan Region, against what it says are positions belonging to the PKK. Civilians have been severely impacted by the operations, with many villagers displaced by the violence, and some killed.

Ankara first launched Operation Claw-Tiger in June 2020, deploying commando forces to the Haftanin area of the Kurdistan Region.

This came two days after Turkey announced the launch of Operation Claw-Eagle, a campaign of aerial bombardment targeting suspected PKK bases in the Makhmour, Qarachogh, Mount Qandil, Khuakurk, and Zap areas of the Kurdistan Region, as well as Shingal in northern Iraq's Nineveh province.