UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Iraq’s Dohuk, Erdogan Describes it as ‘Terrorist Act’

Iraqis mourn a victim who was killed in an alleged Turkish bombing in Dohuk city, during a funeral procession near the victim's house in Baghdad, Iraq, 21 July 2022. (EPA)
Iraqis mourn a victim who was killed in an alleged Turkish bombing in Dohuk city, during a funeral procession near the victim's house in Baghdad, Iraq, 21 July 2022. (EPA)
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UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Iraq’s Dohuk, Erdogan Describes it as ‘Terrorist Act’

Iraqis mourn a victim who was killed in an alleged Turkish bombing in Dohuk city, during a funeral procession near the victim's house in Baghdad, Iraq, 21 July 2022. (EPA)
Iraqis mourn a victim who was killed in an alleged Turkish bombing in Dohuk city, during a funeral procession near the victim's house in Baghdad, Iraq, 21 July 2022. (EPA)

The United Nations Security Council condemned in the strongest terms on Monday the attack on a tourist resort in Iraq’s northern Dohuk province on July 20.

The attack resulted in at least nine civilian deaths, including children.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iraqi government and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, and expressed their support for the Iraqi authorities in their investigations, read a statement.

They urged all Member States to cooperate actively with the Iraqi government and all other relevant authorities in support of these investigations.

The council reiterated support for the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, democratic process and prosperity of Iraq.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the attack was carried out by “terrorists” and was aimed at harming Turkey-Iraq ties.

Speaking to state broadcaster TRT Haber, he added that Turkey had informed its NATO allies, including the United States, and Iraqi authorities of its position on the attack.

He called on Iraq not to fall for the propaganda by Kurdish militants.



Blinken: US Will Continue to Press Israel to Do More to Spare Humanitarian Sites in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
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Blinken: US Will Continue to Press Israel to Do More to Spare Humanitarian Sites in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the United States will continue to urge Israel to do more to spare humanitarian sites in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli airstrike on a UN school complex sheltering displaced Palestinians killed six UN staffers.

When asked at a news conference in the Polish capital about Israel’s bombing of the school complex in central Gaza the day before, Blinken told reporters that “we need to see humanitarian sites protected.”

“That’s something we continue to raise with Israel,” he said.

Wednesday's strike on the UN-supported al-Jaouni Preparatory Boys School in Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, hospital officials said. Among those killed were six staffers from the UN Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA, the main UN relief agency in Gaza.

UNRWA described the strike as the deadliest single incident for its staff members. Among those killed at the school, it said, were the manager of the shelter and others working to help the thousands of displaced people taking refuge there, including teachers.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said at least 220 UNRWA staffers have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began in response to Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Blinken blamed Hamas for continuing to hide its fighters among civilians and said the bombing “underscores the urgency" of reaching a cease-fire in the embattled territory.