Zakho resort attack

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Zakho resort attack

| partof = Operation Claw-Lock

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| location = Zakho District, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

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| date = {{start date|df=yes|2022|07|20|11|16}} –
{{End date|df=yes|2022|07|20|11|30}} ({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|2022|07|11}} ago)

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| type = Artillery strikes

| fatalities = 9 (including 2 children)

| injuries = 33

| victims = Vacationing tourists

| perpetrators = Turkey (Iraqi and Kurdish claim)
PKK (Turkish claim)

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On 20 July 2022, the Barakh tourist resort in the Zakho District of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was shelled with four or five artillery strikes. The attack killed nine civilians, including two children,{{Cite web |last=AFP |title=Five Iraqis killed in shelling officials blame on Turkey |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/five-iraqis-killed-in-shelling-officials-blame-on-turkey/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720140133/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/five-iraqis-killed-in-shelling-officials-blame-on-turkey/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=20 July 2022 |title=Eight killed in northern Iraq in shelling blamed on Turkey |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220720-eight-killed-in-northern-iraq-in-shelling-blamed-on-turkey |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153323/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220720-eight-killed-in-northern-iraq-in-shelling-blamed-on-turkey |url-status=live }} and injured 33 others.{{Cite web |title=Al-Sahhaf: Iraq's speech in the Security Council was the first of its kind in 40 years |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20975-al-sahhaf-iraqs-speech-in-the-security-council-was-the-first-of-its-kind-in-40-years.html}}

The Iraqi federal government and Kurdish authorities claim that Turkish Armed Forces was behind the attack,{{Cite news |date=21 July 2022 |title=Angry Iraq mourns dead from shelling blamed on Turkey |work=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220721-angry-iraq-mourns-dead-from-shelling-blamed-on-turkey |access-date=24 July 2022}}{{Cite news |date=20 July 2022 |title=Turkey Strikes Iraq Resort, Killing at Least 8, Officials Say |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/world/middleeast/turkey-iraq-tourists-killed.html |access-date=22 July 2022}} while the Turkish government denied this and suspected PKK to be responsible.{{Cite web |last=al-Salhy |first=Suadad |date=22 July 2022 |title=Iraqi sources say a Turkish howitzer hit the Zakho resort. Ankara asks 'Where's the proof?' |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-zakho-resort-turkey-howitzer-where-proof |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=21 July 2022 |title=Turkey rejects responsibility for attack on Iraq's Dohuk that killed eight |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-four-killed-turkish-rocket-strike-iraqs-dohuk-province-sources-say-2022-07-20/ |access-date=2022-07-21}}{{Cite news |date=21 July 2022 |title=Kuzey Irak'ta saldırı: Türkiye PKK'yı işaret etti, Bağdat Ankara'yı suçladı |language=tr |work=Euronews |url=https://tr.euronews.com/2022/07/21/kuzey-irakta-saldiri-turkiye-pkkyi-isaret-etti-bagdat-ankarayi-sucladi |access-date=2022-07-21}} The Iraqi Foreign Minister claimed that the PKK was not in the area at the time of the attack and that it was Turkey that attacked.{{cite web |title=د. فوئاد حوسێن بۆ رووداو: لە ئەنجوومەنی ئاسایشی نەتەوەیەکگرتووەکان سکاڵامان تۆمارکرد |url=https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/middleeast/iraq/230720222 |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=www.rudaw.net}}

All of the victims were Arab tourists from central and southern parts of Iraq.{{Cite web |title=Zakho mayor: All the victims of the bombing were tourists from central and southern Iraq |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20823-zakho-mayor-all-the-victims-of-the-bombing-were-tourists-from-central-and-southern-iraq.html}}

Aftermath

The Government of Iraq and United Nations both denounced the attack and ordered an investigation into what had happened.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2022 |title=Turkish strikes in north Iraq kill 8 tourists, wound over 20 |url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-turkey-iraq-baghdad-7488a761ef3fc1115a2307701d4be50c |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720140328/https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-turkey-iraq-baghdad-7488a761ef3fc1115a2307701d4be50c |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Sultan |first1=Ali |last2=Omar |first2=And Kawa |date=20 July 2022 |title=Turkey rejects responsibility for attack on Iraq's Dohuk that killed eight |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-four-killed-turkish-rocket-strike-iraqs-dohuk-province-sources-say-2022-07-20/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |archive-date=2022-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720142730/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-four-killed-turkish-rocket-strike-iraqs-dohuk-province-sources-say-2022-07-20/ |url-status=live }}

Both the autonomous Kurdish region and federal authorities, including Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhimi placed the culpability on the Turkish Armed Forces.{{cite news |author1=Louisa Loveluck |author2=Mustafa Salim |date=20 July 2022 |title=Turkish strike kills at least 8 Iraqi tourists in northern resort |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/20/iraq-turkey-strike-tourists/ |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153331/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/20/iraq-turkey-strike-tourists/ |archive-date=2022-07-21 |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}} The cabinet instructed the Minister of the Exterior to summon the Turkish envoy to Iraq and to demand its Iraqi counterpart in Turkey to come to Baghdad for consultation.{{Cite web |title=Iraq summons its charge d'affaires in Turkey for consultation after an attack – state media |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/iraq-summons-its-charge-d-affaires-in-turkey-for-consultation-after-an-attack---state-media/47768970 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Swissinfo |date=20 July 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153325/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/iraq-summons-its-charge-d-affaires-in-turkey-for-consultation-after-an-attack---state-media/47768970 |url-status=live }} Turkey denied responsibility for the attack and instead suspected terrorist groups to be responsible, offering to open a collaborative investigation into the incident.{{Cite web |title=No: 231, 20 Temmuz 2022, Irak'ın Dohuk Vilayeti'nde Gerçekleştirilen Saldırı Hk. / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-231_-irak-in-dohuk-vilayeti-nde-gerceklestirilen-saldiri-hk.tr.mfa |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.mfa.gov.tr |archive-date=2022-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153326/https://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-231_-irak-in-dohuk-vilayeti-nde-gerceklestirilen-saldiri-hk.tr.mfa |url-status=live }}

Turkish consular offices issuing visas were closed down by protests in Najaf as well as in Kerbala, and the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was besieged.{{Cite web |title=Protestors besiege Turkish embassy in Baghdad |url=https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Protestors-besiege-Turkish-embassy-in-Baghdad |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Protestors besiege Turkish embassy in Baghdad |archive-date=2022-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153327/https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Protestors-besiege-Turkish-embassy-in-Baghdad |url-status=live }} The protesters demanded the Turkish ambassador to be expelled.

Responses

=Iraq=

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi chaired an emergency meeting with the National Security Council with the goal of filing a complaint to the United Nations, as well as summoning Turkish ambassador.{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://twitter.com/iraqispoxmod/status/1549838980581146624 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153326/https://twitter.com/iraqispoxmod/status/1549838980581146624 |archive-date=2022-07-21 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=20 July 2022 |title=بعد هجوم دهوك.. العراق يطالب تركيا بسحب قواتها من أراضيه |url=https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/iraq/2022/07/20/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%88%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AD%D8%A8-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%87- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153326/https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/iraq/2022/07/20/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%88%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AD%D8%A8-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%87- |archive-date=2022-07-21 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=العربية |language=ar}}{{Cite web |date=20 July 2022 |title=مقتل 8 أشخاص في قصف مدفعي تركي شمال العراق.. والكاظمي: نحتفظ بحق الرد |url=https://arabic.cnn.com/middle-east/article/2022/07/20/turkey-artillery-shelling-in-northern-iraq-kills-8-people |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721153326/https://arabic.cnn.com/middle-east/article/2022/07/20/turkey-artillery-shelling-in-northern-iraq-kills-8-people |archive-date=2022-07-21 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=CNN Arabic |language=ar}}

The Iraqi Communist Party stated that, While calling on international organisations and governments in the world to condemn the barbaric Turkish aggression, we also call on the Iraqi government not to allow this criminal act pass without a diplomatic and political response worthy of the blood of the innocent people, and to ensure that Turkish attacks on Iraqi territory are not repeated..{{Cite web |title=Solidnet {{!}} Iraqi CP, Iraqi Communist Party: Turkish brutal aggression must stop |url=http://solidnet.org/article/Iraqi-CP-Iraqi-Communist-Party-Turkish-brutal-aggression-must-stop/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=solidnet.org}}

=Other countries=

{{Flag|Canada}}: Canadian Ambassador to Iraq Gregory Galligan said received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "I would like to convey my condolences to all the families and friends of the dead and wounded in today's bombing in Zakho, Iraq."{{Cite web |title=Canada calls for a thorough investigation of the Turkish bombing of northern Iraq |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20846-canada-calls-for-a-thorough-investigation-of-the-turkish-bombing-of-northern-iraq.html}}
{{Flag|Germany}}: A statement by the German Foreign Ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "Germany condemns the Turkish bombing of civilian sites in Zakho, northern Iraq, which killed a number of defenseless civilians."{{Cite web |title=Germany calls for an investigation with Turkey over the bombing of Zakho |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20847-germany-calls-for-an-investigation-with-turkey-over-the-bombing-of-zakho.html}}
{{Flag|Egypt}}: The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the Arab Republic of Egypt extends its sincere condolences to brotherly Iraq for the victims of the brutal attack that targeted a tourist resort in the Dohuk Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of civilian Iraqis."{{Cite web |title=Egypt condemns the Turkish bombing and affirms its full support for the sovereignty of Iraq |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20841-egypt-condemns-the-turkish-bombing-and-affirms-its-full-support-for-the-sovereignty-of-iraq.html}}
{{Flag|Iran}}: The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the "bombing of the Iraqi city of Zakho, which resulted in deaths and injuries of citizens."{{Cite web |title=Iran condemns the Turkish bombing, stresses importance of stability for Iraq's security |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20842-iran-condemns-the-turkish-bombing-stresses-importance-of-stability-for-iraqs-security.html}}
{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}: The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation of the attack on brotherly Iraq, which targeted the Dohuk Governorate in northern Iraq.".{{Cite web |title=KSA: We stand by Iraqi in facing challenges |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20861-ksa-we-stand-by-iraqi-in-facing-challenges-.html}}
{{Flag|Turkey}}: The spokesperson of the ruling party, Ömer Çelik, said the following about the issue: "The Turkish Armed Forces is the most sensitive army in the world to protect civilians. Even in the most difficult conditions, the Turkish Armed Forces showed this sensitivity. It is clear that it is a typical PKK attack, from the weapon used and the method."{{Cite web |title=Ömer Çelik: Türkiye'nin suçlanması planlı bir provokasyondur |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/son-dakika-omer-celikten-onemli-aciklamalar-42106848 |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=hurriyet.com.tr |date=25 July 2022 |language=tr }}
{{Flag|United Kingdom}}: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office condemned the bombing, stating "The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties as a result of an attack in Zakho area in Dohuk on July 20," the FCO added "We extend our deepest condolences to those affected and express our support to the Iraqi authorities in their investigation," noting that the United Kingdom "deplores the loss of life and will continue to support the stability of Iraq, including the Kurdistan region of Iraq."{{Cite web |title=UK condemns the Turkish bombing in Dohuk |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20834-uk-condemns-the-turkish-bombing-in-dohuk.html}}
{{Flag|United States}}: Ned Price, US department of state Spokesperson has condemned the attack, stating "The killing of civilians is unacceptable, and all states must respect their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians."{{Cite web |last=Darrell |title=The United States Condemns Attack in the Dohuk Province of Iraq |url=https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-condemns-attack-in-the-dohuk-province-of-iraq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721120132/https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-condemns-attack-in-the-dohuk-province-of-iraq/ |archive-date=2022-07-21 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Turkish air raids kill eight tourists in northern Iraq: Officials |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/20/turkish-air-strikes-kill-several-tourists-in-northern-iraq |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720182021/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/20/turkish-air-strikes-kill-several-tourists-in-northern-iraq |archive-date=2022-07-20 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}

=International organisations=

25x25px Arab League: The spokesman for the Arab League pointed out that "the Arab League supports Iraq in rejecting and condemning the Turkish attacks, and that it condemns any encroachment or violation of the sovereignty of any of the Arab countries."{{Cite web |title=Kuwait announces its support for Iraq with all its actions regarding the Turkish attack |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20856-kuwait-announces-its-support-for-iraq-with-all-its-actions-regarding-the-turkish-attack-.html}}
{{Flag|United Nations}}: United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq condemned the deadly artillery shelling, stating "Under international law, attacks must not be directed at the civilian population. UNAMI therefore calls for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack, and emphasizes that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq must be respected at all times."{{Cite web |title=UNAMI condemns attack in Duhok targeting civilians, calls for 'thorough investigation' |url=https://ina.iq/eng/20827-unami-condemns-attack-in-duhok-targeting-civilians-calls-for-thorough-investigation.html}}