Local And Int'l Condemnations To The Turkish Artillery Shelling Of A Resort In Northern Iraq That Killed And Injured Many Civilians

Baghdad / NINA / - The US Embassy in Baghdad condemned the Turkish bombing that targeted civilians in Zakho, Dohuk Governorate, yesterday, Wednesday. The embassy said in a press statement: "The United States condemns the attack yesterday in the Dohuk province of Iraq, which killed and injured civilians. The killing of civilians is unacceptable, and all states must respect their obligations under international law, including obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians. The Embassy added "We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and our sympathies to those injured, and we maintain our strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and its security, stability, and prosperity, including that of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The United Nations Mission in Iraq / UNAMI / condemned the Turkish bombing in Dohuk, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq and the territorial integrity of the country at all times. "We strongly condemn today's deadly artillery shelling in Zakho area of Dohuk Governorate in the Kurdistan Region, which reportedly killed 8 civilians and injured 23 others," it said in a statement. It added, "Civilians are again suffering from the indiscriminate effects of explosive weapons." Under international law, attacks must not be directed against the civilian population. The mission called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, urging all parties to stop these violations without delay. UNAMI offered its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, condemned today, Thursday, the Turkish attack that targeted a tourist resort in the city of Dohuk, which led to the deaths of 9 people and a number of injuries. The Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Jamal Rushdie, quoted Aboul Gheit as affirming the total rejection of the Turkish attack on Iraqi sovereignty, which represents a clear violation of international law and a flagrant violation of the principles of good neighborliness. The spokesman pointed out that "the Arab League supports Iraq in rejecting and condemning the Turkish attacks, and that it condemns any violations of the sovereignty of any of the Arab countries." He stressed the need for "Ankara to recalculate and maintain the principle of good neighborliness in its relations with the countries of the region, and to refrain from carrying out military operations inside the territories of Arab countries under any pretext." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced that confirmed information indicates that the Turkish Armed Forces did not carry out any attack against civilians in Dohuk Governorate. “Once again, we ask God for mercy on the souls of our 9 brothers who died as a result of the attack in Dohuk, and we wish recovery for the wounded,” Çavuşoğlu said in a live interview today, Thursday, on the official “TRT” channel, stressing Turkey’s readiness to transfer and treat the wounded in the attack in Turkish hospitals if necessary. Çavuşoğlu added: There are reports issued after the attack that include accusations and distortions against Turkey, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied them in frank language through its statement yesterday evening, Wednesday. He stressed that the whole world knows that Turkey has not at any time launched attacks against civilians, and continues its struggle against terrorism in accordance with international law. "As soon as this news arrived yesterday, we immediately held consultations with our relevant institutions and exchanged the necessary information," the Turkish Foreign Minister said. "According to the information we received from the Turkish Armed Forces, no attack was carried out against civilians in Dohuk." The Turkish minister indicated that his country's forces always target the Kurdistan Workers' Party / PKK or its Syrian arm, YPG./ The Islamic Republic of Iran has condemned the Turkish bombing, which resulted in deaths and injuries in Dohuk Governorate. In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned "the bombing of the Iraqi city of Zakho, which resulted in martyrs and wounded citizens, expressing sympathy with the families of the victims and the government and people of Iraq." He stressed, "The Islamic Republic of Iran sees the security of Iraq as one of its security and will not hesitate to provide any assistance in this regard." In Baghdad, and in front of the Turkish embassy and its consulate in Adhamiya, north of Baghdad, and the rest of the Iraqi provinces, hundreds of angry protesters chanted, denouncing the artillery bombardment that affected a summer resort in the city of Zakho in the Dohuk governorate in northern Iraq, which led to the death and injury of dozens of civilians./ End