Türkiye says it did not carry out any attack against civilians in Iraq

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye did not carry out any attack against civilians in northern Iraq’s Duhok province, the country’s foreign minister has stated.

“According to information we received from the Turkish Armed Forces, we did not carry out any attack on civilians,” Mevlut Cavusoglu has said.

Cavusoglu’s remarks came a day after an attack in Duhok’s Zakho district killed eight people.

In a statement released after the attack, the Turkish Foreign Ministry called on Iraqi government officials not to make statements on the Duhok attack “under the influence of rhetoric and propaganda” of the PKK.

Turkish security sources also denied reports “in support of the terrorist organization PKK,” which claimed the civilians lost their lives due to shelling by Turkish forces.

Cavusoglu pledged that Türkiye would “cooperate with the Iraqi authorities after the treacherous attack that we believe was carried out by terrorist groups.”

He added that Türkiye rejects both official and unofficial statements seeking to link it to the attack.

Türkiye is set to launch a new operation against the YPG/PKK in northern Syria, across the Turkish border, said Cavusoglu.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye.

“The whole world knows that Türkiye has never carried out an attack on civilians. We continue our fight against terrorism in accordance with international law,” he added.

Denying allegations that protesters entered the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad after the attack, Cavusoglu said: “Entering our embassy is out of the question. Iraqi authorities have taken the necessary security measures everywhere. We thank them too. In front of some of our visa offices, a group of rabble-rousers burned our flag. Apart from that, there was a demonstration in front of our old embassy, ​​and then they dispersed.”