Zakho resort attack

On 20 July 2022, the Barakh tourist resort in the Zakho District of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was shelled with four or five artillery strikes. The attack killed nine civilians, including two children,[1][2] and injured 33 others.[3]

Zakho resort attack
Part of Operation Claw-Lock
LocationZakho District, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Date11:16, 20 July 2022 (2022-07-20T11:16)  –
11:30, 20 July 2022 (2022-07-20T11:30)  (1 year, 3 months and 2 weeks ago)
Attack type
Artillery strikes
Deaths9 (including 2 children)
Injured33
VictimsVacationing tourists
PerpetratorsTurkey (Iraqi and Kurdish claim)
PKK (Turkish claim)

The Iraqi federal government and Kurdish authorities claim that Turkish Armed Forces was behind the attack,[4][5] while the Turkish government denied this and suspected PKK to be responsible.[6][7][8] The Iraqi Foreign Minister claimed that the PKK was not in the area at the time of the attack and that it was Turkey that attacked.[9]

All of the victims were Arab tourists from central and southern parts of Iraq.[10]

Aftermath

The Government of Iraq and United Nations both denounced the attack and ordered an investigation into what had happened.[11][12]

Both the autonomous Kurdish region and federal authorities, including Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhimi placed the culpability on the Turkish Armed Forces.[13][11] The cabinet instructed the Minister of the Exterior to summon the Turkish envoy to Iraq and to demand its Iraqi counterpart in Turkey to come to Baghdad for consultation.[14] Turkey denied responsibility for the attack and instead suspected terrorist groups to be responsible, offering to open a collaborative investigation into the incident.[15][12]

Turkish consular offices issuing visas were closed down by protests in Najaf as well as in Kerbala, and the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was besieged.[16] The protesters demanded the Turkish ambassador to be expelled.[4]

Responses

Iraq
  • Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi chaired an emergency meeting with the National Security Council with the goal of filing a complaint to the United Nations, as well as summoning Turkish ambassador.[17][18][19]
  • The Iraqi Communist Party stated that, ''While calling on international organisations and governments in the world to condemn the barbaric Turkish aggression, we also call on the Iraqi government not to allow this criminal act pass without a diplomatic and political response worthy of the blood of the innocent people, and to ensure that Turkish attacks on Iraqi territory are not repeated.''.[20]

Other countries
  •  Canada: Canadian Ambassador to Iraq Gregory Galligan said received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "I would like to convey my condolences to all the families and friends of the dead and wounded in today's bombing in Zakho, Iraq."[21]
  •  Germany: A statement by the German Foreign Ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "Germany condemns the Turkish bombing of civilian sites in Zakho, northern Iraq, which killed a number of defenseless civilians."[22]
  •  Egypt: The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the Arab Republic of Egypt extends its sincere condolences to brotherly Iraq for the victims of the brutal attack that targeted a tourist resort in the Dohuk Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of civilian Iraqis."[23]
  •  Iran: The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the "bombing of the Iraqi city of Zakho, which resulted in deaths and injuries of citizens."[24]
  •  Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation of the attack on brotherly Iraq, which targeted the Dohuk Governorate in northern Iraq.".[25]
  •  Turkey: The spokesperson of the ruling party, Ömer Çelik, said the following about the issue: "The Turkish Armed Forces is the most sensitive army in the world to protect civilians. Even in the most difficult conditions, the Turkish Armed Forces showed this sensitivity. It is clear that it is a typical PKK attack, from the weapon used and the method."[26]
  •  United Kingdom: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office condemned the bombing, stating "The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties as a result of an attack in Zakho area in Dohuk on July 20," the FCO added "We extend our deepest condolences to those affected and express our support to the Iraqi authorities in their investigation," noting that the United Kingdom "deplores the loss of life and will continue to support the stability of Iraq, including the Kurdistan region of Iraq."[27]
  •  United States: Ned Price, US department of state Spokesperson has condemned the attack, stating "The killing of civilians is unacceptable, and all states must respect their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians."[28][29]

International organisations
  • Arab League: The spokesman for the Arab League pointed out that "the Arab League supports Iraq in rejecting and condemning the Turkish attacks, and that it condemns any encroachment or violation of the sovereignty of any of the Arab countries."[30]
  •  United Nations: United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq condemned the deadly artillery shelling, stating "Under international law, attacks must not be directed at the civilian population. UNAMI therefore calls for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, and emphasizes that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq must be respected at all times."[31]

See also

References
  1. AFP. "Five Iraqis killed in shelling officials blame on Turkey". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. "Eight killed in northern Iraq in shelling blamed on Turkey". France 24. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. "Al-Sahhaf: Iraq's speech in the Security Council was the first of its kind in 40 years".
  4. "Angry Iraq mourns dead from shelling blamed on Turkey". France 24. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  5. "Turkey Strikes Iraq Resort, Killing at Least 8, Officials Say". New York Times. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. al-Salhy, Suadad (22 July 2022). "Iraqi sources say a Turkish howitzer hit the Zakho resort. Ankara asks 'Where's the proof?'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. "Turkey rejects responsibility for attack on Iraq's Dohuk that killed eight". Reuters. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  8. "Kuzey Irak'ta saldırı: Türkiye PKK'yı işaret etti, Bağdat Ankara'yı suçladı". Euronews (in Turkish). 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  9. "د. فوئاد حوسێن بۆ رووداو: لە ئەنجوومەنی ئاسایشی نەتەوەیەکگرتووەکان سکاڵامان تۆمارکرد". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  10. "Zakho mayor: All the victims of the bombing were tourists from central and southern Iraq".
  11. "Turkish strikes in north Iraq kill 8 tourists, wound over 20". AP NEWS. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. Sultan, Ali; Omar, And Kawa (20 July 2022). "Turkey rejects responsibility for attack on Iraq's Dohuk that killed eight". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. Louisa Loveluck; Mustafa Salim (20 July 2022). "Turkish strike kills at least 8 Iraqi tourists in northern resort". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. "Iraq summons its charge d'affaires in Turkey for consultation after an attack – state media". Swissinfo. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  15. "No: 231, 20 Temmuz 2022, Irak'ın Dohuk Vilayeti'nde Gerçekleştirilen Saldırı Hk. / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı". www.mfa.gov.tr. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  16. "Protestors besiege Turkish embassy in Baghdad". Protestors besiege Turkish embassy in Baghdad. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  17. "Archived copy". Twitter. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "بعد هجوم دهوك.. العراق يطالب تركيا بسحب قواتها من أراضيه". العربية (in Arabic). 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  19. "مقتل 8 أشخاص في قصف مدفعي تركي شمال العراق.. والكاظمي: نحتفظ بحق الرد". CNN Arabic (in Arabic). 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  20. "Solidnet | Iraqi CP, Iraqi Communist Party: Turkish brutal aggression must stop". solidnet.org. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  21. "Canada calls for a thorough investigation of the Turkish bombing of northern Iraq".
  22. "Germany calls for an investigation with Turkey over the bombing of Zakho".
  23. "Egypt condemns the Turkish bombing and affirms its full support for the sovereignty of Iraq".
  24. "Iran condemns the Turkish bombing, stresses importance of stability for Iraq's security".
  25. "KSA: We stand by Iraqi in facing challenges".
  26. "Ömer Çelik: Türkiye'nin suçlanması planlı bir provokasyondur". hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  27. "UK condemns the Turkish bombing in Dohuk".
  28. Darrell. "The United States Condemns Attack in the Dohuk Province of Iraq". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  29. "Turkish air raids kill eight tourists in northern Iraq: Officials". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  30. "Kuwait announces its support for Iraq with all its actions regarding the Turkish attack".
  31. "UNAMI condemns attack in Duhok targeting civilians, calls for 'thorough investigation'".

37.2777°N 42.7831°E / 37.2777; 42.7831

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