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.



Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
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Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP

The Sudanese army said Saturday it had retaken a key state capital south of Khartoum from rival Rapid Support Forces who had held it for the past five months.

The Sennar state capital of Sinja is a strategic prize in the 19-month-old war between the regular army and the RSF as it lies on a key road linking army-controlled areas of eastern and central Sudan.

It posted footage on social media that it said had been filmed inside the main base in the city.

"Sinja has returned to the embrace of the nation," the information minister of the army-backed government, Khaled al-Aiser, said in a statement.

Aiser's office said armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had travelled to the city of Sennar, 60 kilometres (40 miles) to the north, on Saturday to "inspect the operation and celebrate the liberation of Sinja", AFP reported.

The RSF had taken the two cities in a lightning offensive in June that saw nearly 726,000 civilians flee, according to UN figures.

Human rights groups have said that those who were unwilling or unable to leave have faced months of arbitrary violence by RSF fighters.

Sinja teacher Abdullah al-Hassan spoke of his "indescribable joy" at seeing the army enter the city after "months of terror".

"At any moment, you were waiting for militia fighters to barge in and beat you or loot you," the 53-year-old told AFP by telephone.

Both sides in the Sudanese conflict have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminately shelling homes, markets and hospitals.

The RSF has also been accused of summary executions, systematic sexual violence and rampant looting.

The RSF control nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur as well as large swathes of Kordofan in the south. They also hold much of the capital Khartoum and the key farming state of Al-Jazira to its south.

Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 11 million -- creating what the UN says is the world's largest displacement crisis.

From the eastern state of Gedaref -- where more than 1.1 million displaced people have sought refuge -- Asia Khedr, 46, said she hoped her family's ordeal might soon be at an end.

"We'll finally go home and say goodbye to this life of displacement and suffering," she told AFP.