Turkey bombs civilian settlements in South Kurdistan

The Turkish state continues its genocidal campaign against the Kurdish people in various parts of Kurdistan.

The Turkish army carried out aerial attacks in the Bradost region in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

According to RojNews agency, the air strikes last night targeted the villages of Kemkoran and Talista, and the regions of Gelî Reş, Xinêre and Lolan. Information about the aftermath of the attacks and possible casualties was not immediately available.

Warplanes and reconnaissance aircraft of the Turkish state are conducting bombardments in the Bradost region on an almost daily basis. The region is also targeted by systematic artillery and mortar attacks.

The Turkish state has increased its military presence and activities in southern Kurdistan more than ever in recent years and maintains dozens of bases from which helicopters and drones take off on attack flights. Thousands of soldiers are stationed in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In addition, there are locations of the Turkish intelligence service (MIT) and a broad network of agents.

The KDP, controlled by the Barzani family, is largely dependent on and closely allied with the AKP/MHP regime. The Turkish state is trying to use the KDP as a tool to trigger an internal Kurdish civil war. The current deployment of troops by the KDP shows the extent of the danger. In recent years, the KDP has repeatedly set up ambushes against the guerrillas, marked targets for Turkish airstrikes, captured guerrillas and even "disappeared" them. The KDP’s intelligence service Parastin supports the Turkish intelligence service MIT in its attacks against Kurdish activists in southern Kurdistan. So far, a major escalation could only be avoided thanks to the patient attitude of the guerrillas, who are trying to build a Kurdish unity. However, as the Turkish army seems to be on the defensive again in its current large-scale attack on the guerrilla-held Medya Defence Zones, a relief attack by the KDP is becoming increasingly likely.

On 13 September 2023, the KDP dispatched hundreds of armored vehicles and heavy weapons to  Bradost after forcibly evacuating the nomads from the region through threats, repression and use of force. A part of the KDP force attacked the positions of the guerrillas at Gewriya Zînê in the Goşîne area the following day. 

Local sources report that nearly 286 families, including nomads and farmers, had to leave their fields and orchards in the region due to KDP pressure.

The Turkish state has recently started to build a new military base in the Bradost region. With the new military base, the Turkish state penetrated some 10 km into the border of the Kurdistan Region.

Local sources report that around 100 soldiers were airdropped by helicopters at the Turkish base in Bradost.

The new base is located in the area of Duriya and separates it from Xakurke, bringing the areas of Tarstan, Kem Kora and Sinîn Lolan under the control of the Turkish occupation state.