Turkish Air Strike Kills More Than 30 Civilians

Turkish Air Forces killed more than 30 civilians mistaking them for Kurdish rebels, in the southeastern district of Uludere, Şırnak near the border with Iraq.

Drones and thermal cameras identified a group of people heading for the border last night. F-16 planes took off and strike the group with missiles. With dawn, it was revealed that the group were not PKK members but villagers who were trying to smuggle cheap gasoline over the border. Most of them are reported to be living in the village of Ortasu.

"The incident took place within Turkish borders, in a place nearby the village", Uludere mayor Fehmi Yaman told bianet. He had reported to the region immediately last night.

"These villagers were buying materials from Iraq and bringing them back to Turkey. When they were not allowed to enter the village, they returned back to Iraq. At this point the war planes attacked."

"There's one survivor. There're around 36-37 corpses in the village. But some of the bodies are in parts and some body parts are missing. Most corpses are heavily burned. Heavy machinery is needed to collect some bodies that are buried under rocks and debris."

Ortasu village chief also affirmed the number of bodies as 36, to bianet. He noted that most of the dead are youth. "They went to get gasoline" he added.

According to daily Milliyet, governor of Şırnak said there are more than 20 dead in the incident. A local newspaper reported that there are three wounded at Şırnak State Hospital but no one is allowed to visit.

The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) -which holds a strong electoral base in the region- MP Hasip Kaplan criticized the media for lack of timely reporting. BDP is sending a group to the region for investigation. (BIA)

* DHA news agency's video footage is available here.