Nine civilians killed in Turkish shelling in Duhok

BAGHDAD, Jul. 20 (YPA)-  At least nine people were killed and 23 others injured on Wednesday in a Turkish shelling that targeted a resort in Duhok Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

The resort area of Barakh in the Zakho District in Duhok was subjected at exactly 01:50 pm to fierce artillery shelling, according to a statement published by the Iraqi Security Media Cell (SMC).

Eight people were killed and 23 others injured, all of them civilian tourists, the statement said.

Later, the Iraqi News Agency reported that the number of those died in the attack rose to nine.

The Iraqi Government condemned the assault, calling it “a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, and a clear threat to the safety of civilians.”

The Iraqi government stressed its categorical rejection of these violations, noting that they “violate international law.”

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi dispatched a delegation to the area headed by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, the media cell added.

“The highest levels of diplomatic response will be taken, starting with resorting to the UN Security Council, as well as adopting all other measures decided in this regard,” the Iraqi government said .

E.M