Iraqi Kurdistan: Seven villages have been deserted by the bombing of the Turkish Air Force ...
Turkish bombing: Seven deserted villages
At least seven villages in Iraqi Kurdistan have been deserted by the bombing of the Turkish Air Force which begun on Aug. 17, according to a Kurdish official. The government of Iraqi Kurdistan has condemned the "violation" of its territory and called on Turkey to stop the aggression.
After the threats by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan against the Kurdish politicians and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the army launched a series of air strikes against the PKK-controlled areas in the north of Iraq, where hundreds of villages are located, away from the guerrillas.
457 TARGETS BOMBED
The army said 457 targets were bombed in three days, between 17 and 19 August, by aviation and artillery. The bombing resumed on the morning of August 20 on the Kandil and Zap areas.
Last night, warplanes have been bombing villages and Pishteshan Girnek in the region of Kandil, causing a fire that destroyed several houses and farms.
The spokesman of the Kurdish government, Mahmoud Kawe, condemned the Turkish aggression, calling it a "violation" of the territory of Kurdistan and Iraq, in an interview with Aknews. "We are in favour of a diplomatic solution to resolve the issue," he said, noting that military means are not a solution.
SEVEN DESERTED VILLAGES
According to the journal Rudaw web site, the head of Sidakan, 100 km northeast of Erbil, said the Turkish air force has bombed several villages 5 km from the city center. "Aviation and the Turkish artillery shelled our borders, on Friday at 19.30" said Qadir Ahmed, adding that seven villages were deserted.
In the Kandil region near the Iranian border, the sub-prefect of Pishder, Hassan Abdullah, said the bombing caused extensive damage in the villages in the area of Sengeser.
WARPLANES BOMBING THE DEAD
Kurdish guerrilla forces have reported no losses in the bombing, said the PKK. However, two graveyards where guerrillas are buried in the Zap region were damaged by the bombing on August 17.
BOMBED AREAS
PKK areas extend for hundreds of miles between Turkey, Iran and Iraq, covering eight regions: Kandil, Metin, Zap, Xakurke, Xinere, Haftanin, railway station and Zagros. All these areas have been targeted by the Turkish Air Force. The guerrillas have no fixed camps, and most of PKK fighters are inside the Turkish border.
BOMBING BY THE IRANIAN ARMY
In coordination with Turkey, the Iranian army also shelled the Sidekan and Kandil regions on Friday and Saturday.
Both countries have massed tens of thousands of troops on the border with Iraq. Analysts said a ground incursion is considered.
MAXIME AZADI - ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
30 August 2011