Turkish shelling on a park in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has resulted in the death of nine children. The incident has led to a diplomatic row between the two countries. Most of the victims were Iraqi tourists. At least 23 people were wounded.
Officials from the region blamed Turkey and has resulted in Iraq recalling its charge d’affaires from Turkish capital Ankara.
Turkey has accused forces belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of carrying out the strike. The “fierce artillery bombing” hit a park in Zakho, a city on the border between Iraq’s Kurdistan region and Turkey, Iraq state TV said.
The Kurdish health minister said that children, including a one-year-old baby, were among the victims.
Hassan Tahsin Ali, a man injured in the attack, called the attacks “indiscriminate”. “Our young people are dead, our children are dead, who should we turn to? We have only God,” he told the AFP news agency from in front of a hospital.
Iraq has summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad to demand an apology.
“The Turkish forces committed blatant violation of the sovereignty of Iraq,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi tweeted.
The Turkish flag was burned by protesters outside a Turkish visa centre in the Iraqi city of Karbala, while demonstrations also took place in Baghdad and Nassiriyah, reported the BBC.
The United States condemned the shelling. “The killing of civilians is unacceptable, and all states must respect their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
Turkey has been on the offensive against Kurdish fighters, who have bases in the region. Turkey’s latest offensive in northern Iraq started around three months ago and is aimed at targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK.
