CPT: Turkey Executed 82 Drone Strikes in Kurdistan Region This Year

Interviews 06:17 PM - 2023-08-14

One of Turkey's strikes in the Kurdistan Region.

Kamran Osman, a member of the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)-Iraqi Kurdistan, spoke with PUKMEDIA on the latest statistics and casualties of air strikes and shelling of villages in the Kurdistan Region by Turkey and stated that 158 villages were evacuated and 147 civilians were killed as a result of these attacks.

The interview:

PUKMEDIA: Who are most of the victims of Turkey's attacks?

CPT: “The drones that Turkey used were at first Bayraktar TB2 drones, and now they are using Akıncı drones. Most of the victims of these attacks are civilians. According to the statistics available to us, 147 civilians have been killed. Turkish drones have been used since August 2015. Since then, 147 civilians have been killed and 219 others injured in air strikes, shelling, and shootings in villages; most of them are victims of drones."

PUKMEDIA: What is the number of villages evacuated due to Turkish bombings?

CPT: “So far, 158 villages have been completely evacuated due to the Turkish attacks, mostly in the Sidakan area in Erbil province, Zap and Avashin in Duhok province, as well as several villages in Zakho and a few villages in Sulaymaniyah province, but we can say that 59% of the victims are in Duhok province."

PUKMEDIA: How many Turkish military bases are there in the Kurdistan Region?

CPT: "Turkey has 64 military bases in the Kurdistan Region, located in Erbil and Duhok provinces."

PUKMEDIA: What is the number of bombings executed by Turkey just this year?

CPT: Turkish drones have been targeting 82 locations in the Kurdistan Region this year.

PUKMEDIA: Have you submitted any reports to international centers?

CPT: Yes, we have submitted our reports to the consulates of foreign countries in the Kurdistan Region and informed them."

PUKMEDIA: According to the reports and statistics, who is guiding Turkey in these attacks?

CPT: I can easily say that no one in the Kurdistan Region or Iraq will stop Turkey. Iraqi border guards flee on motorcycles when the borders are bombed. Therefore, I will answer differently and state that there is no impediment to Turkey, as a result of which they target our region daily."

PUKMEDIA