PKK says shot down Turkish helicopter in Iraqi Kurdistan

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Wednesday that it successfully downed a Turkish military helicopter in Iraqi Kurdistan.

According to a statement from the People’s Defense Forces (Hêzên Parastina Gel, HPG), the military wing of the PKK, the incident occurred on July 16, 2024. The statement specified that a Turkish Sikorsky helicopter was brought down at Girê Bahar in the western Zap region of Iraqi Kurdistan, Firat News Agency ANF reported.

The PKK guerrillas also reported another successful strike on a Turkish helicopter in the same area on July 10, 2024. Following this incident, the guerrillas released a video the next day showcasing the attack.

Turkey’s longstanding conflict with Kurdish separatists has often extended beyond its borders, leading to military operations in neighboring regions where it alleges rebels find refuge. Turkey maintains a significant military presence in northern Iraq, operating from several dozen bases aimed at combating the Kurdish group.

These incursions have frequently strained diplomatic relations between Turkey and Iraq and have occasionally caused friction with Turkey’s Western allies. On Wednesday, the Iraqi government condemned the latest Turkish incursions into its autonomous Kurdistan region, calling on Ankara to address its security concerns through diplomatic means.

In recent weeks, Iraqi local media have reported an uptick in Turkish airstrikes, which have sparked numerous fires in border areas. Some reports suggest Turkish forces are establishing new positions within Iraqi territory.

The situation escalated further when the Turkish defense ministry announced on Friday that one soldier had been killed and another injured by an improvised explosive device in northern Iraq, attributing the attack to Kurdish militants.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on Saturday, declared that the Turkish military’s operations against PKK fighters in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan were nearing their conclusion.

These developments highlight the ongoing volatility in the region and the complex dynamics at play as Turkey continues its efforts to suppress Kurdish separatist activities both within its borders and in neighboring countries.

The PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984, seeking greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in Turkish Kurdistan. Despite Kurds making up over 22.5 million of Turkey’s 84 million population, the state continues to deny their constitutional existence. This protracted conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas.

The Kurdish PKK focuses its attacks on Turkish military and government security facilities, intentionally avoiding civilian casualties. A significant Kurdish community within Turkey and across the globe openly sympathizes with the PKK’s cause.