The Turkish page of the German news provider, Deutsche Welle (DW), published an internet article on July 27, 2022, after the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the July 20 artillery attack by as yet unknown perpetrators on the village of Perex, a northern Iraq tourist destination.[1] According to the DW report, both Baghdad and Ankara are agreeable to a joint investigation into the incident; however, Baghdad is demanding the withdrawal of Turkish military forces from Iraq while Ankara insists it has the right to defend itself against terrorists, i.e., the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). [Comment: It is difficult to foresee Baghdad and Ankara cooperating in an investigation predicated on a de facto assurance by Türkiye to withdraw its forces from an area it deems vital to control for security reasons. Although Baghdad recognizes the PKK’s destabilizing effect on Iraq and wants to rid the country of its presence, an international mandate is the way forward. Thus, the impasse remains unresolved.]

The DW article follows [as translated and amended by loc]:

Iraq has demanded the establishment of an independent investigation team by the UN Security Council related to the Zaho attack. The UN Iraq Special Representative reported that Baghdad and Ankara view a joint investigation favorably.

The bombardment that resulted in nine civilian deaths in the Zaho district of Iraq’s Dohuk province was discussed at an emergency session of the UN Security Council. The session was held at Iraq’s request.

Speaking at the session, Iraq Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that Baghdad had “evidence” in its possession concerning the Turkish Armed Forces’ being responsible for the July 20 attack. The Iraqi minister demanded that an “international independent investigation team” be set up to deal with the attack.

Hussein also called for a decision to be accepted immediately by the UN Security Council demanding the withdrawal from Iraq of Turkish soldiers, the number of which is reported as close to four thousand, and to cease operations in Iraqi air space.

Hussein reported that through reviewing the incident, the Iraqi government found that there were Turkish army bases in the vicinity of the village of Perex, which came under attack; touched on the fact that there have not been PKK members in the region for the last month; and remnants of 155-mm artillery rounds, used by the Turkish army, were discovered in the area of the incident. The Iraqi Foreign Minister stated that several people in the region “had given him sufficient information about the activities of the Turkish soldiers there.”

Türkiye’s Deputy UN Permanent Representative, Öncü Keçeli, said, “We had stated clearly that Türkiye is ready to take all steps for uncovering the truth.” He added, “Our officials at various levels have given the same message.”

Keçeli said that some Iraqi officials too, like Türkiye, “want to uncover the truth,” although some “have chosen tension in place of diplomacy and cooperation” and are trying to create a rift between the Turkish and Iraqi peoples via a “smear campaign” that they have begun in the media.

Keçeli indicated that “Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have been violated by terror organizations, not by Türkiye;” Ankara has always supported Iraq’s sovereignty.

“While we are talking here, at this moment, in some of northern Iraq’s regions, it’s not the federal government’s, [rather] the terror organization PKK’s flag flying,” says Keçeli. He shared with the UN Security Council Türkiye’s estimate that an area encompassing 10 thousand square kilometers in Iraq is under PKK control. “Approximately 800 villages were forcibly evacuated by the PKK and these locations became a shelter for terrorists.” In the first six months of this year, Keçeli stated, the PKK organized 339 attacks against Türkiye and he maintained that Türkiye had the right to defend itself, especially since, in his opinion, Baghdad’s efforts were lacking in the war against terrorists.

However, Hussein said that the Iraqi government is ready to work with the UN and interested countries “for ensuring PKK elements leave Iraq.” Hussein stated that PKK elements are “destabilizing” Iraq and harming the security of the country.

The UN Iraq Special Representative, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who spoke at the beginning of the session, said that both Iraq and Türkiye were ready to carry out a joint investigation in connection with the attack.

In a telephone conversation that she conducted with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa el Kazim, Hennis-Plasschaert reported that the Iraqi leader stressed the importance of carrying out a “transparent, comprehensive investigation independently or jointly.” She added that it was necessary to put an end to the increasing “speculations, denials, misunderstandings, and tensions.”

Hennis-Plasschaert stated, “I understand that Türkiye is ready to deal with the issue together with Iraq in order to determine completely what happened.”

In a statement disseminated at the beginning of the week, the UN Security Council condemned the attack in Zaho. The UN Security Council had invited all countries, especially parties interested in the incident being investigated, to cooperate with the Iraqi government.

Diplomats who spoke to the AP reported that the chances were remote that the Security Council would give consent to a decision demanding the withdrawal of Turkish forces in Iraq.

[1] Please see https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/125354824/posts/4162440698 Attack in northern Iraq: Turkiye Points to the PKK, Baghdad Accuses Ankara for the initial post concerning the Zaho incident.

DW, AP/CÖ, EC