Seven Peshmerga were also wounded when an explosion destroyed their vehicle near Matin Mountain.
Most Peshmerga units operating in Duhok governorate are affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which has close political, economic, and security ties with Turkey.
People's Defence Forces (HPG) Spokesperson Sarko Yaktash said the HPG (armed wing of the PKK) did not know for certain how it happened.
In statements, KRG officials put the blame squarely on the PKK.
Yaktash said that when the Peshmerga were entering an HPG-controlled area, the guerrilla forces fired into the air as a warning, but the Peshmerga continued to move forward. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, destroying the vehicle, NRT quoted the spokesman as saying.
One explanation he offered was that the Peshmerga vehicle hit a landmine left over from the Ba’athist era.
Another was that the explosion was the result of a Turkish airstrike designed to incite fighting between the Peshmerga and the PKK.
The area around Matin Mountain, which is north of Amedi, has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Turkish military and the PKK over the past year. In late April, Turkey launched “Operation Claw Lightning,” renewing its offensive against the group.
No civilians have been killed since the beginning of “Operation Claw Lightning,” but at least four have been wounded in airstrikes and approximately 1,500 villagers have been displaced.
“It is true that we have drones, but it is clear that we never want to use any weapon or plane against Kurds and the PKK [fighters] will never attack [their] brothers," Yaktash said.
“We only have one enemy which is the invading Turkish state.”
He called on the Peshmerga forces to withdraw from areas with PKK presence in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
“Those who desire, let them fight with us against invaders. For those who do not, let them not create obstacles for us and stab us in the back,” Yaktash said.
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