KHRP calls on Iran to halt their cross-border bombardments in the wake of increased shelling and aerial bombings of northern Iraq.

According to media reports, at least 180 Kurdish families from the provinces of Pishdar, Qaladizah and Choman have been forced to flee from their homes due to the constant shelling of the region from the Iranian army, which reportedly continued over several days.

These assaults are the latest in a recent series of aerial and artillery bombardments carried out by the Iranian and Turkish militaries. Turkey began increasing troop deployments to the border regions in early March, and in May carried out its largest aerial bombing operation for 18 months, prompting speculation that it might once again be preparing for wide-scale ground-incursions into northern Iraq. Iran has also recently intensified its routine cross-border shelling of the region in the wake of fighting on its border.

The Turkish and Iranian governments claim that these cross-border operations are aimed at combating armed opposition groups which have bases in northern Iraq. However, it has also been widely acknowledged that such a myopic military approach will never achieve its aims.  KHRP’s fact-finding missions and reports have documented the devastating toll that these operations have wrought on innocent Iraqi civilians, as well as the destruction of their property and the degradation of the environment.

‘The losses of lives, property and livelihoods resulting from these military operations in northern Iraq cannot continue’, said KHRP Managing Director, Rachel Bernu.  ‘It is imperative that the Turkish and Iranian governments recognise their international obligations and the devastating effects that these bombardments have on innocent civilians, in contravention of the Geneva Conventions.’