Ministry on Arbat airport attack: 'PUK and YPG members were training during the explosion'
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written statement regarding the airstrike on Arbat Airport in the Sulaymaniyah province of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) region on Monday (September 18).
While the responsibility for the attack with an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) on Arbat Airport was not directly claimed, the mention of Turkey's "precautions" taken in Sulaymaniyah and the statement of how "effective" they were raised attention.
Accusing the security units affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of collaborating with PKK and YPG members, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that the mentioned groups were conducting training during the explosion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:
"With this recent incident, the effectiveness of our precautions in Sulaymaniyah, that the terrorist organization has virtually taken its people hostage, has once again been confirmed. Turkey expects both the Iraqi Central Government and the KRG authorities to recognize PKK and its affiliates as terrorist organizations and to sincerely and concretely combat terrorism."
Previous incidents
On April 7, an airstrike with a UCAV was conducted near Sulaymaniyah International Airport, and it was stated that the target was the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazlum Kobani. However, the SDF denied the claims that Mazlum Kobani had been targeted and stated, "Our general commander is on duty. Such news aims to politically blackmail some powers in the Kurdistan Region." Later, Mazlum Kobani himself confirmed the attack.
Afterwards, the Media Spokesperson of the SDF, Ferhad Shami, confirmed during a statement that General Commander Mazlum Kobani was in Sulaymaniyah during the UCAV attack.
Joe Buccino, the Spokesperson for the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), announced that there were U.S. soldiers in the targeted convoy.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously announced that Turkish airspace would be closed to flights departing from Sulaymaniyah International Airport until July 3. Turkish Airlines, which operates two daily flights to Sulaymaniyah, announced on April 3 that all its flights to Sulaymaniyah Airport had been suspended. The reason cited for this decision was "the activities of the PKK in Sulaymaniyah."(VC/PE)