Rukah said that Ankara’s cross-border operations were not undertaken in the context of an alliance and condemned the continued build-up of Turkish forces, which threaten the Kurdistan Region and Shingal.
The State of Law MP added that the recent unauthorized visit by the Turkish defense minister to a military base in the Kurdistan Region showed the Turkey’s presence was illegitimate.
“The Iraqi government should take serious steps and the procedures should not be only diplomatic,” Rukah said, adding that Turkey should withdraw before US troops do.
On April 23, Turkey launched “Operation Claw-Lightning” in Duhok governorate, with airstrikes and airborne operations using helicopters. It justifies its cross-border actions as necessary to combat the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
At least twelve civilians in the Kurdistan region have been killed in Turkish airstrikes since last June, when Ankara launched “Operation Claw-Eagle.”
Reporter's code: 50101