Baghdad – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility on Thursday for two drone attacks in northern Iraq. These attacks injured five members of the Kurdish peshmerga forces earlier this week. Despite a declared ceasefire, clashes continue in disputed areas.
The drone strikes happened on Monday and Tuesday in Duhok province. This region lies within the autonomous Kurdistan area, where tensions between Turkish forces and the PKK remain high. Regional officials confirmed the incidents and described the perpetrators as a “terrorist group.”
According to the PKK, the attacks were limited and intended to prevent casualties. The group described them as a response to the construction of a new Kurdish peshmerga post. This new position reportedly blocks a key road connecting important zones in the mountains.
PKK leaders claimed that the roadblock aimed to isolate their units. They also said the construction threatened their strategic movements in the area. The PKK added that similar posts have recently appeared across territory they consider crucial for their operations.
Kamran Othman, a representative of the US-based Community Peacemakers Teams, commented on the issue. He noted that the peshmerga built the post in an area known for military tensions. Turkish forces and the PKK have previously clashed in the same zone.
The PKK has operated from northern Iraq’s mountains for decades. Meanwhile, Turkey maintains long-standing military bases in that same region. The PKK remains blacklisted as a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.
In recent weeks, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Turkey. This move followed a public call from their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. He urged the group to consider disbanding and pursuing peaceful methods.
Nevertheless, fighting has continued despite the truce. The Kurdistan regional authorities accused the PKK of disrupting peace and regional stability. In their latest statement, the PKK insisted they do not seek war with any side.
These incidents show that the PKK conflict in northern Iraq remains unresolved. While talks of peace exist, tensions on the ground persist. The PKK conflict continues to shape military actions and political narratives in the region.
