KRG head condemns attack on Turkish base in Iraq

By Arif Yousef and Ali Mohammed

ERBIL, Iraq (AA) – Head of Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday condemned an attack on a Turkish military base in northern Iraq.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to use the region's territory to attack neighboring countries," Barzani told a press conference in Erbil.

On Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said a base belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces in northern Iraq was attacked due to provocation by the PKK terrorist group.

“The policy of the region is based on peace and harmony with the countries surrounding us and it is unacceptable to use our territory to attack neighboring countries,” Barzani said.

He vowed to form "a special committee to investigate and follow up to figure out the circumstances of what happened and who is behind it."

Barzani said the Turkish bombing targeted PKK whereabouts, not villages or populated places.

"Some citizens did not comply with the instructions and warnings of the government not to go to these places as areas of tension,” he said, stressing that addressing this issue should be by "ending the presence of the PKK in these areas."

In a Saturday statement, the Turkish Defense Ministry said: "As a result of the provocation of the PKK terrorist organization, an attack took place in our base area located in northern Iraq."

There was a partial damage to vehicles and equipment in the attack, it said, adding that necessary measures were being taken regarding the incident.

On Saturday evening, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation with Barzani to discuss the issue.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people.