Iraq has repeated its accusations against Turkey regarding the bombing of a popular resort in Zakho. "Turkey bears sole responsibility for the killing of civilians in the Kurdistan Region. There is absolutely no doubt about that," Iraqi Defence Minister Juma Inad told al-Arabiya television on Sunday.

Last Wednesday, the Turkish army bombed the summer resort in the village of Perex (Parakh) with artillery shells from a base in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). Nine people, including several children, were killed and more than twenty others injured. While Iraq was quick to accuse Turkey of the artillery attack, the government in Ankara continues to deny any involvement. According to an investigation report by the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, the bombing of the resort was carried out by Turkish 155 mm shells.

"Turkey has taken advantage of the war against Daesh [ISIS] to invade Iraq," Inad said in the interview. But clear demands for a withdrawal of Turkish troops from the country have so far gone unheard, the minister criticised. On the contrary, Ankara continues to increase its troop strength in Iraq and the Kurdistan region. "Turkey even has an entire brigade at its Zelkan base," said Inad.

Baghdad has already lodged an official complaint against Ankara with the UN Security Council, demanding an emergency meeting to discuss Turkey's permanent aggression in Iraq. The Security Council will meet on Tuesday to deliberate.