Issued by CEMO Center - Paris
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Rocket Attack Targets Turkish Military Base in Northern Iraq

Thursday 02/February/2023 - 11:15 AM
The Reference
By: Ahmed Seif El-din
طباعة

A Turkish military base in northern Iraq was targeted by a cluster of rockets, according to officials from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The attack was promptly claimed by an Iranian-backed militia. The Turkish defense ministry confirmed that there was no damage or injury at the base, but provided no further information. According to a statement, at least eight rockets were fired at the Zilkan military base, with two hitting the base itself.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar played down the incident, stating that the base is frequently targeted, but the Turkish soldiers remain resolute in their fight. Turkey has been conducting military operations in the region for some time, with the aim of battling the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK has established sanctuaries in the region and has been the target of frequent Turkish airstrikes.

In addition to operations against the PKK, Turkey is also an ally in the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State (IS) campaign and was part of the war against the IS group, which took control of much of the area in 2014. Turkey has set up several military bases in the region, much to the chagrin of Iraqi officials and some in the regional Iraqi Kurdish government, which has not officially condemned the Turkish troop presence.

The Zilkan base, established in 2015 during the war against IS, is located near the city of Mosul and has occasionally been targeted in rocket attacks. The Iraqi government has repeatedly denounced Turkey's military presence as illegal. After the attack, the Islamic Resistance Ahrar al-Iraq Brigade, part of Iraq's pro-government, Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.


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