Gare operation: The 'responsibility' debate continues as Erdoğan sues CHP's Kılıçdaroğlu

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sued the main opposition leader for his statements about the killing of hostages during a military operation in Iraq, seeking 500,000 lira (~71,600 USD) for immaterial damages.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the head of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said on Tuesday (February 16) that "Normally, someone should take responsibility for this and resign. You go to rescue hostages and they die ... Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is responsible for our 13 martyrs."

In response, Erdoğan called Kılıçdaroğlu "shameless" and "impudent," for which the CHP leader sued him, demanding a symbolic 5 kurus for damages.

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Erdoğan sued him back yesterday (February 18), stating that Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks were aimed at "whitewashing the PKK and damaging the honor and dignity of the president by holding him responsible."

Opposition leaders yesterday continued to blame Erdoğan for the deaths of the soldiers, pointing out that he said he had announced "good news" for February 10, the date the operation started.

"The president said to the public that 'I will announce good news on Wednesday. For those who held our brothers, the operation was exposed, this is not right," said Ahmet Davutoğlu, the chair of the Future Party who also previously served as the prime minister from the AKP.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Pervin Buldan also said yesterday that the government was responsible for the operation and those who have responsibility for the killings should stand trial.

On February 10, the military launched an operation into the mountainous Gare area in Iraq's Kurdistan region to rescue 13 security personnel held by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

All hostages as well as three soldiers who participated in the operation lost their lives, Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar announced on February 14.

Government officials did not initially confirm that it was a rescue operation and the hostages were security personnel, including military, police and intelligence officers. (EKN/DŞ/VK)