Turkish army burns villages in South Kurdistan

As a result of the bombardment by the Turkish forces stationed in Girê Amediyê, a fire broke out in the villages on the slopes of Garê mountain. The local people who want to extinguish the fire that spread to their vineyards and gardens are prevented.

The attacks of the occupying Turkish army, which have intensified in recent days, target not only the guerrilla areas but the whole of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

While the villages of Dergelê, Bazê and Mîska in the Metîna region ended up on fire after the bombardments carried out by the occupying Turkish army, now fires have started in the villages of Mijê, Kevne Mijê and Spîndarê on the slopes of the Garê mountain.

The fire started by the bombardment of the Turkish troops stationed in Girê Amediyê in the morning continued to rage throughout the day, spreading to vineyards, gardens and villages.

The local people, who want to prevent the fires from growing further, are prevented by the KDP authorities and are not allowed to intervene in the flames.

Turkey has massively expanded its occupation operation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in recent weeks and is preparing its long-announced "summer offensive" against the Kurdish guerrillas. Massive troop concentrations have been taking place for days. Troops are being increased and tanks are being deployed in and around Amadiya in particular.

Amid the silence of Baghdad and Erbil, Turkish forces set up checkpoints and started performing identity checks in Duhok, while forcibly evacuating many villages.

In a statement on 3 July, the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Foreign Relations Committee reported that the Turkish state is deploying ISIS mercenaries into the areas it seeks to occupy in southern Kurdistan, in addition to the village guards and Roj mercenaries.

“The international public should be aware of this as well; these ISIS gangs, who are currently fighting the Kurdistan freedom guerrillas, are poised to be a plague on humanity; like a ticking bomb, they will cause great harm. A solid reaction must be mounted against the Turkish state’s invasion of Iraq and southern Kurdistan and the deployment of these fascist ISIS gangs,” KCK said.