“Prior to asking why Turkey has come inside Kurdistan Region, we have to ask what is the reason? The reason is PKK,” Rudaw quoted Barzani Saying, referring to the Kurdistan Workers Party.

“The KRG’s principle is that the soil of Kurdistan Region should not be used to attack neighboring countries, such as Iran, Turkey, Syria and elsewhere,” Barzani added.

Kurdish authorities have recently called upon PKK fighters to keep their deployments away from civilian areas in the region as Turkey continues to carry out airstrikes against the group’s members there, Iraqi News reported.

PKK recently announced it was pulling out from Iraq’s northern region of Shingal, having become assured that Islamic State extremists were no longer a threat to the Kurdish-speaking Yazidi minority there.

Reporter’s code: 50101