On April 17, the Turkish military forces launched a new military operation called Claw-Lock in Avastin, Zap, and Matina in the Amedi region of Iraqi Kurdistan. Currently, helicopters are flying over the city of Deraluk and Shiladze, bombarding the surrounding mountains. For years, the civilian population in the areas north of the Iraqi Kurdistan border has feared Turkey’s military assault.

Before this new operation, Turkey bombed the villages of Shiladze, Deraluk, and Kani Mase fifty times. Also, dozens of Turkish soldiers were helicopter ranges to the mountain in the Nerwa-Rekan area. In recent years the local population has witnessed many bombings that have caused damage, death, and injuries for which they have never received compensation. In addition, Turkey’s violence is causing psychological harm, which has been going on for years. Families who have lived in these areas for generations are forced to leave, because the villages are less and less safe and this insecurity makes it impossible to have a dignified life. However, other families stayed in the despite fear and difficulty gaining access to their land for cultivation, stressed by the bombing.

As local and international organizations we have decided to join this statement to condemn this oppressive military operation by Turkish forces. We are very concerned about the safety of civilians and the damage to the environment that these attacks entail.

This new operation is nothing more than another abuse of the civilian population. That is why we call for civilians to be protected from this new military operation and for fundamental human rights and fair compensation to be guaranteed. We also call on the international community to monitor what is happening along the border of Iraqi Kurdistan.

We urge the Turkish state to stop the bombing immediately. We call on Turkey to use diplomacy and start peace talks to resolve their conflicts with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). We call on the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take concrete measures to ensure the security of their citizens.

From Ukraine to Afghanistan, Yemen to Iraq and many others, it is time to stop the wars!

If you want to be updated on the situation and join the campaign you can write to: endcrossborderbombing@gmail.com
or follow the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/End-Cross-Border-Bombing-in-Iraqi-Kurdistan-183751926554125

End Cross Border Bombing campaign