ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A shepherd was killed in a Turkish bombardment of a village in northeastern Erbil on Tuesday, according to a local health official and a war monitor. The area is known for clashes between the Turkish military and Kurdish fighters.
Badi’ Kamal Mohammed, 29, was seriously injured when Turkish air forces hit the Senin meadow in the Sidakan district of Erbil province, hospital director Karwan Faysal told Rudaw. Faysal added that Mohammed was brought to Sidakan hospital, where the civilian succumbed to his wounds
The incident took place around 4 pm, also striking houses of villagers, Rudaw has learned.
Turkey often hits Sidakan on the premise of targeting alleged positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Turkey has yet to comment.
Kamaran Osman, a member of the Community Peacemakers Teams (CPT), a human rights organization monitoring the conflict, told Rudaw English that the bombardment took place in Merga Hawsh village, adding that the man, a shepherd, is from a nearby village.
“Twelve civilians have fallen victim to the Turkish army’s attacks and operations in the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of this year. The figure contains ten deaths and two injuries. Five of the victims are from Sidakan,” he said.
Turkey’s bombardment of PKK positions can be heard daily in the highlands. The situation in these areas is increasingly tense as the Turkish army continues its incursion into the Kurdistan Region.
The mayor of Sidakan told Rudaw in July that nearly half of the district was no longer under local control.
“Of the total 1,617 kilometers of Sidakan area, 46 percent is no longer under our control, due to Turkey's entry to a depth of 30 kilometers and fighting between Turkey and the PKK,” Ihsan Chalabi said.
Sidakan’s highlands are renowned for their fertile pastures. However, due to the ongoing fighting and instability, livestock breeders, farmers, and beekeepers have been unable to access them for two years.
Turkey’s defense ministry announced on Monday that its forces had struck and “destroyed” 20 suspected positions of the PKK in the mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region, including Khwakurk area near Sidakan.
Andam Jabar contributed to this article.