The KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party), which is dominated by the Barzani family, has deployed new troops in the Amadiya region for the second time in just a few days, arguing that the measures are intended to protect the border. In fact, the troop build-up is taking place on the border with Turkish territory. As Amadiya is located in the Zap region, which has been the focus of a new occupation operation by the Turkish state since last summer, this is likely to be military support for Ankara. It would not be the first time that the KDP has flanked the occupation efforts in South Kurdistan and assisted the Turkish army, which has come under pressure in its war against the PKK guerrillas.

It was only on Tuesday that the KDP deployed troops on the edge of the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones. KDP units took up positions in the village of Serzêrî near Kanîmasî close to Duhok, among other places. On the same day, the Turkish air force bombed a village not far from Akra and killed two retired peshmerga fighters. The two Kurds were working in the fields when they were targeted by fighter jets. The Kurdish movement condemned the attack and accused the KDP of complicity.

The redeployment of troops and the attack on the former Peshmerga fighters followed intensive diplomatic communication between Ankara, Baghdad and Hewlêr (Erbil). At the beginning of the week, Falih Al-Fayyadh, leader of the Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi, also met with the Turkish Foreign Minister and former intelligence chief Hakan Fidan in Ankara. The Iraqi government has repeatedly and half-heartedly called on Ankara to respect Iraq's sovereignty and stop the attacks. The Barzani clan in the Kurdistan region of Iraq openly collaborates with the Turkish state.