{"id":1831593,"date":"2023-02-01T11:05:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T16:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1831593"},"modified":"2023-02-01T11:07:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T16:07:47","slug":"risk-of-deeper-conflict-as-turkey-pushes-into-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/risk-of-deeper-conflict-as-turkey-pushes-into-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Risk of Deeper Conflict As Turkey Pushes Into Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frisk-of-deeper-conflict-as-turkey-pushes-into-iraq%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1831593&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><br \/>\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\" data-aqa=\"nav-breadcrumb\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Link<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/category\/pmn\/news-pmn\/politics-news-pmn\/\">PMN Politics<\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/category\/pmn\/news-pmn\/\">PMN News<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-header__detail\">\n<div class=\"article-header__detail__texts\">\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"wire-published-by\">\n<p class=\"visually-hidden\">Author of this article:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reuters\" aria-labelledby=\"wire-company-name\" class=\"wire-published-by__logo\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp, https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=140&#038;d=mp 2x\" width=\"70\"   style=\"display:none\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"wire-published-by__author-container\">\n<p> Reuters <\/p>\n<p> Amina Ismail <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <span class=\"published-date__since\">Published January 31, 2023<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"published-date__word-count\">Read for 6 minutes<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"article-meta-comment-count\" data-smooth-hash-scroll-component=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/turkeys-push-into-iraq-risks-deeper-conflict#comments-area\"> <span class=\"comment-bubble\">    <\/span> <span class=\"article-meta-comment-count__text\"> Join the conversation <\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>SARARO \u2014 Looming over the deserted village of Sararo in northern Iraq, three Turkish military outposts break the skyline, part of an incursion that forced the residents to flee last year after days of shelling.<\/p>\n<p>These are just a few examples of the dozens Turkish military bases that have been established on Iraqi soil during the past two decades as Turkey intensifies its long-running offensive against Kurdish militants hiding in remote areas.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"js-widget-content article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--content-slot6 article-content__widget-group--newsletter-slot\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"NPPosted2790038748471026113720709736824832\" class=\"newsletter-widget np-headlinenews background--primary-light-gradient\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"NP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"NP Posted Banner\" class=\"newsletter-widget__banner\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/12.8.0\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/NP_HeadlineNews.svg\" width=\"97\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"NPPosted2790038748471026113720709736824832\">NP Posted<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Subscribe to the National Post&#8217;s top stories every day, a division Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> Clicking the &#8220;Sign up&#8221; button signifies that you agree to receive the Postmedia Network Inc. newsletter.  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Please try again <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cWhen Turkey first came to the area, they set up small portable tents, but in the spring, they set up outposts with bricks and cement,\u201d Sararo\u2019s mayor Abdulrahman Hussein Rashid said in December during a visit to the village, where shell casings and shrapnel still litter the ground.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_2\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment6644446744975106352939679323521024\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment6644446744975106352939679323521024\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-2\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> Your article continues below, although this advertisement isn&#8217;t loaded yet. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-block article-content__sign-in-group hidden\" data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" id=\"article-block\">\n<section class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"identity-intro col-xs-12 col-md-6 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-md-10\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"National Post NewsConnect Powered by Postmedia Network\" class=\"newsconnect-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/12.8.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/newsconnect\/logo-newsconnect-np.svg\" \/> <\/p>\n<h2>REGISTER FOR MORE ARTICLES<\/h2>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Register or log in to continue your reading experience<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled list-checkmark\">\n<li>With one account, you can access articles from all over Canada<\/li>\n<li>Comment below to share your thoughts<\/li>\n<li>Additional articles each month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favorite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThey have drones and cameras operating 24\/7. They know everything that\u2019s going on,\u201d Reuters heard him tell of the moment drones buzzed over the mountainous terrain, 5km from the frontier.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey\u2019s advances across the increasingly depopulated border of Iraqi Kurdistan attract little global attention compared to its incursions into Syria or the battle against Islamic State, but the escalation risks further destabilizing a region where foreign powers have intervened with impunity, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey could find itself further embroiled in the event that its new Iraqi bases are subject to sustained attack. Kurdish officials warn that Iran may be encouraged by Turkey&#8217;s increasing presence in Iraq to escalate military action against those it claims are fomenting unrest at its home.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_3\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8828164068500524965373082511343616\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8828164068500524965373082511343616\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-3\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> The advertisement is not yet loaded, but you can continue reading the article below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Former secretary general for Kurdistan\u2019s Peshmerga forces, Jabar Manda, said Turkey had 29 outposts in Iraq until 2019 but the number has mushroomed as Ankara tries to stop the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) launching attacks on its own territory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYear after year the outposts have been increasing after the escalation of battles between Turkish forces and the PKK,\u201d He estimated the current number at about 87, mostly in a border area of 150 km (95 miles) and thirty km deep.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn those outposts there are tanks and armored vehicles,\u201d Manda, now a security specialist in Sulaimaniya, said. \u201cHelicopters supply the outposts daily.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>EMPTY VILLAGES<\/p>\n<p>Unnamed Kurdish officials also stated that Turkey has about 80 outposts in Iraq. Another Kurdish official said at least 50 had been built in the last two years and that Turkey\u2019s presence was becoming more permanent.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_4\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2687515532677991667425781206745088\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2687515532677991667425781206745088\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-4\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> The advertisement is not yet loaded, but you can continue reading the article below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Asked to comment on its bases in Iraq, Turkey\u2019s defense ministry said its operations there were in line with article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which gives member states the right to self defense in the event of attacks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur fight against terrorism in northern Iraq is carried out in coordination and close cooperation with the Iraqi authorities,\u201d The ministry issued a statement that did not address any questions regarding the figures mentioned by Kurdish officials.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey\u2019s presence in northern Iraq, which has long been outside the direct control of the Baghdad government, dates back to the 1990s when former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein let Turkish forces advance 5 km into the country to fight the PKK.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has maintained a significant presence since then. Turkey claims it had a base at Bashiqa, 80km inside Iraq, as part of an international mission that trained and equipped Iraqi forces to defeat Islamic State.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_5\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment1510263864193856916026038855663616\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment1510263864193856916026038855663616\">Advertisement 5.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-5\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> The advertisement is not yet loaded, but you can continue reading the article below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Turkey claimed it coordinated with Iraqi authorities to prevent civilian casualties.<\/p>\n<p>End Cross-Border Bombing (a coalition of non-governmental organizations) published an August report that estimated at least 99 civilian deaths between 2015 and 2021. According to the International Crisis Group, 1,180 PKK militants were killed in 2015-2023.<\/p>\n<p>According to an official with Iraq\u2019s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the conflict has also emptied at least 800 villages since 2015, when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK broke down, driving thousands of people from their homes.<\/p>\n<p>NEW TARGETS<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the humanitarian impact, Turkey\u2019s incursion risks widening the conflict by giving carte blanche to regional rival Iran to step up intelligence operations inside Iraq and take its own military action, Kurdish officials say.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_6\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2577891446526048104819436975816704\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2577891446526048104819436975816704\">Advertisement 6<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-6\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> Your article continues below, although this advertisement isn&#8217;t loaded yet. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Tehran has fired missiles at Kurdish groups it accuses for participating in protests against its restrictions of women&#8217;s movement, dislocating hundreds of Iranian Kurds and some killing others.<\/p>\n<p>Iran didn&#8217;t respond to our requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq also have a pretext to respond to Turkey\u2019s presence, analysts say, raising the prospect of escalation between Turkish troops and groups besides the PKK.<\/p>\n<p>Hamdi Malik, a specialist on Iraqi Shi\u2019ite militias at the Washington Institute, said pro-Iranian groups such as Liwa Ahrar al-Iraq (Free People of Iraq Brigade) and Ahrar Sinjar (Free People of Sinjar) rebranded themselves last year as the resistance against the Turkish presence.<\/p>\n<p>A Washington Institute report states that attacks on Turkish military installations in Iraq have increased from 1.5 strikes per month in the beginning of 2022, to seven in April.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_7\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment7412990832041647424210457455493120\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment7412990832041647424210457455493120\">Advertisement 7<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-7\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"7\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-7\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> Your article continues below, although this advertisement isn&#8217;t loaded yet. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Mustafa Gurbuz (a non-resident fellow at The Arab Center Washington) stated that the United States could be undercut by the actions of these groups, which are strongly hostile to Washington.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTurkey is underestimating the strength of opposition and the fact that these facilities will become targets in the future and more so as hostilities increase,\u201d Sajad Jiyad is a Baghdad-based analyst at The Century Foundation, an American think-tank.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018THEY HAVE BOTH WRONGED US\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Northern Iraq\u2019s fragmented politics mean that neither the federal government in Baghdad nor the KRG regional authority are strong enough to challenge Turkey\u2019s presence \u2013 or to meet Ankara\u2019s goal of containing the PKK themselves.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_8\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8709104084405871860574479403974656\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8709104084405871860574479403974656\">Advertisement 8<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-8\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"8\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-8\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> The advertisement is not yet loaded, but you can continue reading the article below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The Baghdad government has complained about Ankara\u2019s incursions but has little authority in the mainly Kurdish north, while the region\u2019s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) does not have the firepower to challenge the PKK, despite seeing it as a potent and populist rival.<\/p>\n<p>Although the KDP has always cooperated with Turkey, it has little influence over a neighbor that has far more military and economic power.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe ask all foreign military groups \u2013 including the PKK \u2013 to not drag the Kurdistan Region into any kind of conflicts or tensions,\u201d Jotiar Abil, spokesperson for KRG said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe PKK are the main reason that pushed Turkey to enter our territories in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, we think the PKK should leave,\u201d He said. \u201cWe are not a side in this long-standing conflict and we have no plans to be on any side.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_9\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3720515789491323844541443517448192\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3720515789491323844541443517448192\">Advertisement 9<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Continue the story below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-9\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"9\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-9\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> The advertisement is not yet loaded, but you can continue reading the article below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Masrour Barzani, the Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minster, stated to Reuters that the conflict between Turkey&#8217;s PKK and Turkey was a concern but not as urgent as the threat from the Islamic State.<\/p>\n<p>Hariam Mahmoud is a prominent figure in Kurdistan Liberation Movement. This civilian opposition group in Iraq was influenced by Abdullah Ocalan&#8217;s ideas. He said that no matter how Turkey squeezes them, they will resist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn our opinion, this is an occupation and fighting resistance is a legitimate right,\u201d Mahmoud, a resident of Garmiyan in the south of Sulaimaniya said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, civilians continue to pay the price.<\/p>\n<p>Ramzan Ali (72), was irrigating his Hirure field, a few kilometers from Sararo, in 2021 when he heard an enormous blast. His next memory is of being covered in blood.<\/p>\n<p>He said a Turkish shell had crashed into his property \u2013 a regular occurrence when Turkish troops respond to PKK attacks with artillery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI watched my life flash before my eyes,\u201d Ali stated this in Zakho, where his shrapnel wounds are still severe. \u201cI am mad at both the PKK and Turkey. They have both wronged us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(Reporting done by Amina Ismail, Ahmed Rasheed Baghdad, and Kawa Omar Dohuk; Editing done by Dominic Evans &#038; David Clarke<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article on your social media networks<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<footer aria-label=\"Article Comments\" class=\"article-footer\">\n<section class=\"comments__section\" data-aqa=\"viafoura-comments\" id=\"comments\">\n<h3 class=\"widget-title comments-anchor\" id=\"comments-area\">Comments<\/h3>\n<p class=\"comments__section-disclaimer\"> Postmedia wants to maintain a civil, but lively, forum for discussion. All readers are encouraged to contribute to our articles. It may take up to one hour for comments to be approved before they appear on the site. Your comments should be relevant and respectful. 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Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/community-guidelines\/\">Guidelines for the Community<\/a> For more information on how to adjust your wardrobe, click here <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/community-guidelines\/#faq\">email settings<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/footer>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Link PMN Politics PMN News Author of this article: Reuters Amina Ismail Published January 31, 2023 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Read for 6 minutes Join the conversation Article content SARARO \u2014 Looming over the deserted village of Sararo in northern Iraq, three Turkish military outposts break the skyline, part of an incursion that forced the residents &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1899548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[5237,9942,17259,3700,7514,7623],"class_list":["post-1831593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-conflict","tag-deeper","tag-iraq","tag-pushes","tag-risk","tag-turkey"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1831593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1831593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1831593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1899548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1831593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1831593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1831593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}