Turkey Criticizes Iraq Over Airstrikes Reaction

Turkish Foreign Ministry said Friday the Iraqi government is not fulfilling its commitment regarding to not allow to any attack against Turkey from its territory.



"It is impossible to understand and accept that they act in contravention to Turkey's struggle with the terrorist organization PKK, which carries out armed actions against our country's citizens and security forces," said the ministry in a written statement.



The statement comes after Iraq on Tuesday defined Turkey's airstrikes on PKK camps in northern Iraq as "escalation" and "attack on [Iraq's] sovereignty".



The Turkish Foreign Ministry's statement underlined Ankara's support to Iraq's struggle against Daesh and stated that Iraqi officials are well aware of Turkey's intentions.



"And yet, Iraq's negative attitude about our country's steps within international legal rules against terrorist attacks, and in this context, our operations against the terrorist organization PKK within the boundaries of Iraq, have caused disappointment," the statement said.



Turkey's military and police have been hit by a number of attacks over the past week following the Daesh-linked suicide bombing in southern Sanliurfa province that killed 32 people on July 20.



Since then, Turkish security forces have arrested hundreds of people with suspected links to Daesh, the PKK, and leftist groups, detaining over 1,300 people across the country, according to a statement on Wednesday from the Prime Minister's Office.



Turkey has also launched airstrikes against Daesh and PKK positions in Syria and Iraq.



The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey. - Ankara