In a message sent to the Security Council concerning the Turkish attack on 20 July, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that “22,740 Turkish violations have been documented”.

“The Turkish attack resulted from its expansionist policies and there is no security or military agreement with Ankara,” the ministry said.

“Baghdad demands an apology from the Turkish side for Iraq and its people,” the ministry added.

BAGHDAD'S DEMANDS

The statement noted that Baghdad requested the Security Council to “issue a statement condemning the Turkish attack on Iraqi sovereignty”.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that a decision should be made for Turkey to withdraw its military forces from Iraqi territory, that the attacks should be strongly condemned, and an independent international team should be formed to hold the perpetrators accountable, the situation between Iraq and Turkey should be addressed at the Security Council and Turkey should pay compensation for the loss in tourism activities during the last bombing.

Fuad Hussein announced on Saturday that the UN Security Council would convene urgently on Tuesday to discuss the Turkish attacks.

CHIEF OF DEFENCE: TURKISH FORCES MUST BE REMOVED FROM PLACES THEY INVADED

In the meantime, Iraqi Chief of General Staff Abdul Emir Rashid Yarallah of the Turkish border violations and occupations in many areas.

Yarallah emphasized the necessity of deploying armed forces and peshmerga to force Turkey to withdraw from its positions in order to maintain Iraqi authority.

“There has been an increase in the number of sudden attacks and occupations by Turkish forces, as well as Turkish military positions (100 positions) within Iraqi territory near Dohuk,” Yarallah spoke at the Iraqi parliament.

EMERGENCY MEETING AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL

During the emergency meeting at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, UN Special Envoy to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced that the parties were ready for a joint investigation.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said that in a speech on Monday Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi “emphasized the importance of an independent or joint, transparent and extensive investigation”.

It was reported that al-Kadhimi said that it was vital to “end speculation, denials, misunderstandings and escalating tensions”.

The UN envoy added that Turkey was also "ready to tackle the issue jointly with Iraq."

UN IRAQ AMBASSADOR: 9 PEOPLE KILLED, 33 PEOPLE INJURED

Hennis-Plasschaert stated that 9 tourists, including three children, were killed and 33 injured during the Turkish attack. It was reported that 11 out of the 33 injured had undergone an operation and the condition of three of them was still critical.

Hennis-Plasschaert said that on the afternoon of 20 July, five howitzers were dropped in the village of Perex in Zakho, one of them hitting an uninhabited hill and the other four hitting the centre of the touristic area.

Hennis-Plasschaert also recalled the PKK's statement that said that the group was not present in the region during the attack.

DISRESPECT TO LAWS PROTECTING CIVILIANS

Hennis-Plasschaert said the attack on a prominent tourist site “shows a shocking disregard to the universally accepted standards of humanitarian and human rights law that protects civilians”.

The UN envoy stated that the requirement that all parties to the conflict “always take all possible measures not to harm civilians” was “clearly not complied with”.

“Indeed, it is very important that all attacks on Iraqi territory should end. This kind of aggression not only recklessly escalates national and regional tensions, but also causes serious humanitarian tragedies as we have seen,” Hennis-Plasschaert added.