Destruction of nature through military operations in South Kurdistan

The Turkish state has started building a military base near the village of Hiror, while the PDK is cutting down trees in the Berwari region to build a road to the military base in the region.

According to RojNews, the Turkish state has started building a military base near the village of Hiror, while the KDP is cutting down trees in the Berwari region to build a road to the military base in the region.

In the districts of Saxan and Şeşdaran near Zaxo, the Turkish army is also having trees cut down under the supervision of the KDP.

According to a report by the Kurdistan Green Party, the Turkish government has cut down three million trees in the Behdinan region.

Ebdulrehman Sidîq, head of the Environmental Protection Agency of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, pointed to the destruction of nature caused by military operations and said that one million hectares of land have been damaged by the Turkish army's bombardment.

"Where the Turkish army march, forests disappear"

Zikrî Zêbarî, MP for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK-YNK), explained that the invading Turkish soldiers looted and set up bases wherever they attacked. The PUK politician criticized the silence of the parliament and the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on the Turkish occupation attacks, stressing that while disagreements in parliament are normal, a unified stance is needed on the issue.

"We must not allow the nature of Kurdistan to be plundered. Since 2015, almost 150 civilians have been murdered in their gardens and fields in South Kurdistan, and 133 people have been injured. Agricultural land has been burned. Great damage was done in South Kurdistan. Many people had to leave their villages."

Zêbarî added: “The parliament and the government of the Kurdistan Region must fulfil their duties and responsibilities. You should know that these attacks aim to weaken the sovereignty of the South Kurdistan Region. The Kurdish people should know that the invasion attacks, allegedly because of the fight against the PKK, are illegal. The Turkish state wants to seize the sovereignty of South Kurdistan. The Turkish state cuts down trees mainly in Avaşin, Metîna and Gare. They cut down trees wherever they have invaded and set up bases. The trees are used both for the construction of military bases and for trade."