Iraq army shoots down Turkish drone over Kirkuk city

KIRKUK, northern Iraq,— A Turkish drone was shot down by the Iraqi military on Thursday over Kirkuk, a northern city with a diverse population, as Turkey continued its military operations against Kurdish militants in Iraq.

Authorities reported that debris from the downed drone caused damage to a house in the city center.

According to police and army officials who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, there were no immediate casualties. However, a carpenter working nearby was hospitalized after a fall, believed to be linked to the incident.

General Abdel Salam Ramadan, the deputy air defense commander for Kirkuk, confirmed in a press briefing that the drone was shot down after entering Iraqi airspace. He noted that the drone had approached from the direction of Sulaimani, the second-largest city in Iraq’s Kurdistan semi-autonomous region.

Kirkuk, along with its oil-rich surroundings, is a key area directly controlled by Iraq’s federal government, unlike the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to the north.

Turkey has long maintained a military presence in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, with several bases established over the past 25 years as part of its ongoing campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkish forces frequently conduct operations targeting PKK militants, though Ankara seldom comments on these actions publicly.

In March 2024, the Iraqi federal government officially designated the PKK as a banned organization, reflecting a shift in its stance.

Earlier this month, Baghdad and Ankara signed a military cooperation agreement aimed at intensifying joint efforts against the PKK. This agreement includes provisions for joint training and the establishment of command centers.

On August 23, 2024, a Turkish drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan region killed two Kurdish female journalists.

Political expert Henase Karim told iKurd News the “The skies over Iraqi Kurdistan have effectively become a free zone for Turkish military operations. Turkish warplanes and drones operate without significant interference, given the lack of objection from their allies in the region, particularly the Barzani ruling clan. This has allowed Turkish forces to target anybody in the region”

The PKK, a leftist Kurdish group, has been engaged in an armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1984, seeking greater autonomy for Kurds in Turkish Kurdistan. Kurds make up at least 23 million of the country’s 84-million population.

The conflict has been a costly one, with over 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters killed. The group typically targets military and government installations while strictly avoiding civilian casualties.

The PKK retains significant support among Kurds in Turkey and abroad.