Iraqi Foreign Ministry Summons Turkish Ambassador and Hands Over Official Protest Note Over Bombing of Northern Iraq

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Friday, that it has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and handed him an official protest note regarding the airstrikes carried out by Turkish fighter jets early today on areas in Duhok Governorate in northern Iraq. The ministry spokesman said in a press statement that Iraq categorically rejects the use of its territory as a ground for settling scores or pursuing elements of opposition organizations, considering that these acts violate Iraqi sovereignty and contradict the principles of good neighborliness. The statement added that the ministry demanded the Turkish government to immediately stop the violations and commit to diplomatic dialogue as the only way to resolve shared security disputes. The spokesman stressed that Iraq reserves its right to resort to the UN Security Council and other international organizations if these violations continue. Eyewitnesses had reported that the raids targeted remote mountainous areas in Al-Amadiya district, without reports of human casualties until the time of preparing this news. The Duhok Governorate Council condemned the bombing and described it as a blatant aggression on Iraqi territory, demanding the federal government to take deterrent measures. This development comes amid escalating tension in Iraqi-Turkish relations due to repeated military operations inside Iraqi territory.