Dağlıca and Iğdır attacks in 2015
The attacks in Dağlıca and Iğdır took place on September 6th and 8th, 2015 in the Turkish provinces of Hakkâri and Iğdır , in the far east of Turkey. 16 soldiers and 14 police officers were killed in explosive attacks by the PKK . These were the worst attacks by the PKK since the end of the armistice in July 2015.
Dağlıca and Iğdır attacks
On Sunday, September 6, 2015, there was an explosive attack against a convoy of the Turkish army on a road between Dağlıca and Yüksekova , which was supposed to be cleared of mines and booby traps. According to the Turkish government, two armored vehicles were badly damaged, 16 soldiers were killed and six others were injured.
On Tuesday, September 8, 2015, there was another bomb attack on a minibus carrying police officers on a street near Hasanhan in Aralık . The police escorted customs officers on their way to the checkpoint in Dilucu on the Azerbaijani border. 14 police officers were killed and two injured.
Reactions
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu interrupted a trip to Konya and attended a security meeting with Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar and Chief Intelligence Officer Hakan Fidan , the outcome of which was not disclosed to the public. Davutoğlu, however, announced tough crackdown on the PKK and spoke of the liberation of the mountains in northern Iraq from terrorists. President Recep Erdoğan spoke of the intention of destroying the welfare, security and stability of the country through such attacks. In response to the attack, Selahattin Demirtaş broke off a visit to Germany and called for a bilateral ceasefire.
The Turkish Air Force flew retaliatory strikes against Kurdish targets in northern Iraq for several hours, with around 40 rebels allegedly killed. In addition, Turkish ground troops crossed the Iraqi border in a “short-term operation” and began pursuing the alleged perpetrators in Dahuk Governorate . This was the first border crossing by Turkish troops since 2013.
In several cities in Turkey there were demonstrations against the PKK and sometimes violent riots against pro-Kurdish associations and parties. The HDP reported the nationwide attack on 126 of its party buildings. In Mersin crowds blocked a main road and attacked buses which were traveling towards Kurdish regions. In Erzurum , several hundred demonstrators occupied a state building project whose Kurdish builders were subordinated to support from the PKK. In addition, according to CNN Türk in Beypazarı, there were attacks on Kurdish seasonal workers.
On September 8, TRT World reported the arrest of two suspects in the Iğdır attack.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Turkish soldiers die in PKK attack, zeit.de
- ↑ 16 soldiers killed in PKK attack and fighting in southeastern Turkey, gmx.at ( Memento from January 3, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ 16 soldiers killed in PKK attack in Turkey's southeast: Army, hurriyetdailynews.com
- ↑ At least 14 dead in PKK attack on Turkey police minibus, middleeasteye.net
- ^ Mine attack to police service in Igdir, ilkha.com
- ↑ Turkey sends ground forces into Iraq after Kurdish attacks, cbc.ca
- ↑ Bomb attack on minibus in Turkey kills 14 police officers, irishtimes.com