‘Gare’ statement by the US: ‘We condemn it'

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Making a statement yesterday (February 14), Turkey's Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar announced that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) concluded its "Operation Claw Eagle-2" in the territory of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq's north.

The dead bodies of 13 soldiers and police officers, taken hostages and held by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), were reportedly found during a search in a cave in the mountainous Gara (Garê) area.

The United States (US) Department of State has released a statement about the incident, condemning it "in the strongest possible terms."

Released by Ned Price, the Spokesperson of the US Department of State, the message has read:

The United States deplores the death of Turkish citizens in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We stand with our NATO Ally Turkey and extend our condolences to the families of those lost in the recent fighting. If reports of the death of Turkish civilians at the hands of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization, are confirmed, we condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.

Erdoğan has accused the US

Shortly after this statement was released, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the AKP Provincial Congress in Rize province and accused the US of "siding with the PKK and YPG", by referring to the US statement that read, "If reports of the death of Turkish civilians at the hands of the PKK ... are confirmed, we condemn this action in the strongest possible terms."

Within this context, President Erdoğan briefly said: "The US has released a statement. It is farcical. You were supposedly not on the side of the PKK and YPG, right? You are obviously on its side and behind its back. We have, unfortunately, all seen it from the beginning.

"The blood of innocent people martyred in northern Iraq is on the hands of all defending, supporting and sympathizing with PKK terrorists."

US Ambassador summoned to Ministry

On the other side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David M. Satterfield. As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Ministry has expressed Turkey's criticism about the US statement "in the strongest terms possible."

'We are deeply saddened'

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), representatives of other countries have also expressed their sadness and condolences.

"I was deeply saddened by the news that Turkish soldiers and civilians lost their lives in northern Iraq. I offer our condolences to Turkey and allies and to those affected at this difficult time," British Ambassador to Turkey Dominick Chilcott has said on Twitter.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has also conveyed his condolences to Turkey over the incident. "We are extremely outraged by this horrific act of terrorism against civilians and strongly condemn all manifestations of terrorism," he has stated and briefly added:

"On this occasion, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families and the loved ones of those who were killed and the brotherly people of Turkey."

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has also issued an official statement on the incident: "Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms the heinous act of terrorism in which 13 Turkish nationals were martyred in Gare, Iraq."

(DŞ/SD)