Two Dead, Seven Injured in Turkish Air Strikes Hitting YBS Site in Iraq

A file photo taken on February 4, 2019, shows a general view of damaged buildings in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. (AFP)
A file photo taken on February 4, 2019, shows a general view of damaged buildings in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. (AFP)
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Two Dead, Seven Injured in Turkish Air Strikes Hitting YBS Site in Iraq

A file photo taken on February 4, 2019, shows a general view of damaged buildings in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. (AFP)
A file photo taken on February 4, 2019, shows a general view of damaged buildings in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. (AFP)

At least two people were killed and seven injured in Turkish air strikes targeting the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a militia affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in Iraq's northern province of Sinjar, security sources said on Wednesday.

They said one strike targeted an intelligence headquarters and another hit a civilian area, causing damage to nearby shops.

Videos on social media showed plumes of thick smoke and fires ablaze while people ran away in the street, though Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.

There has been a long-running Turkish campaign in Iraq and Syria against militants of the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which are both regarded as terrorist groups by Ankara.

Turkey regularly carries out air strikes into northern Iraq and has sent commandos to support its offensives.

In April, the Turkish foreign ministry summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires after Baghdad accused Ankara of violating its sovereignty and called on it to withdraw all of its forces from Iraqi territory.

The PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which in the past was mainly focused in southeast Turkey.



Iran Foreign Minister Araqchi Arrives in Syrian Capital Damascus

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi looks on as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi looks on as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Iran Foreign Minister Araqchi Arrives in Syrian Capital Damascus

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi looks on as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi looks on as he meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Damascus coming from Lebanon to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with Syrian officials, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.
In Lebanon, Araqchi held meetings Friday with the country’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who is a close ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah.