On its official website, the General Staff stated that eight soldiers and 33 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants died on Sunday; there were battles in four different places on that day. In addition, a helicopter has crashed near the border. The reason for the accident is as yet unknown.

On 22 February, the first day of battles, five soldiers died. They were buried on Sunday.

Kurdistan: Parliament condemns, government questions motivations

The parliament of the Northern Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has condemned the cross-border operations. According to the Sulaimania-based Pukmedia, the parliamentary statement says that civilian settlements in the operation area have had to be evacuated.

In an official statement, the KRG has announced its neutrality in the conflict between the Turkish Armed Forces and the PKK; however, it also registered its suspicions as to whether Turkey’s attacks were targeting the Kurdistan region or the PKK, questioning why bridges in civilian settlements had been destroyed.

The beginning of ground operations has been condemned by various parties and organisations of the political left:

The Europe Peace Parliament Initiative Committee, the Labour Party (EMEP), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSIP), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) and the  Global Peace and Justice Coalition have called for a stop to operations and a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. (TK/NZ/AG)