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Kurdish Protesters Reportedly Storm Turkish Military Camp in Iraqi Kurdistan

Residents were quoted by Reuters as saying that protesters were demonstrating against recent Turkish air strikes in the area.
Sputnik

Protesters stormed a Turkish military camp near Dohuk, situated in Iraqi Kurdistan, on Saturday, burning vehicles and standing on tanks, Reuters reports.

In 2018, the Turkish military established three new bases in the Kani Rash and Hakurk areas of Iraqi Kurdistan, according to the London-based New Arab outlet.

Turkish forces have been active in Iraqi Kurdistan since the mid-1990s, with an estimated 2,000 special forces and intelligence officers reportedly stationed in the capital city of Erbil, as well as Sulaymaniyah and other cities since 1998.

Earlier this week, Turkey allowed flights to the airport of Sulaymaniyah to resume after lifting a ban that was imposed following the 2017 independence referendum in the semi-autonomous region.

READ MORE: Turkey Accuses US of Failing to Monitor Its Arms, Helping PKK

Iraqi Kurdistan Ex-Leader, US Envoy Hold Talks Amid Turkey's Military Op Plans
In June 2018, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that Turkey may soon start an operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq's Qandil Mountains where the main base of the PKK, designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, is reportedly located.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members. Turkish forces are involved in anti-PKK raids across Iraq, carrying out airstrikes and other operations.

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