Iraq condemns Turkey’s attack north country
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – Iraq announced on Tuesday its rejection to the Turkish operation north the country, and considered it a violation to sovereignty and the principles of good-neighborliness.
The rejection came in a statement issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry early today, less than 24 hours after a fierce Turkish attack, with dozens of helicopters providing air cover, in the outskirts of Amadiyah district, north of Duhok governorate.
The Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed al-Sahaf, said that his country “categorically rejects and condemns the Turkish bombing, which was conducted using drones and ATAK helicopters, in the areas of Matina, Zap, Avashin and Basyan in northern Iraq.”
Al-Sahaf said this action was a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an act that violates international laws and covenants that regulate relations between countries.
“It also violates the principle of good-neighborliness, which should be a reason to ensure that participatory security work is carried out in the favor of both parties,” he added.
“The Iraqi government confirms that the Iraqi territory shall not be a base or corridor for harming any neighboring countries.”
The spokesman emphasized that Iraq shall not be “an arena for conflicts and settling scores.”
“Turkey the neighbor has bombed Iraqi territory unjustly and illegally. If it faces a threat from the Iraqi part, it must coordinate with the Iraqi government to end the danger because the Iraqi security forces are capable to solve it,” the leader of the Sadrist Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, sent a message to Turkey via Twitter.
The Shiite leader of the strongest Iraqi movement said, “If it (the assault) is repeated, we will not stay silent. Iraq is a fully sovereign State.”