Iraq condemns killing of civilians by Turkish forces in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the attack by Turkish forces that killed a number of civilians in northern Iraq.

The ministry said in a statement that a recent bombing by the Turkish forces in the Suran area in the north of Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, killed a number of civilians.

"The ministry denounces the continuing attacks against unarmed civilians in the Kurdish region. We reiterate our position of rejecting any presence of troops in the Iraqi territory," the statement said.

"We also reject any attempt to carry out military operations by any neighboring countries in Iraq," it added.

Earlier in the day, Kurdish media Rudaw reported that four people were killed in the Turkish airstrikes in northeastern Erbil.

Turkish forces frequently carried out anti-terror operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardment targeting the positions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with main focus on Qandil mountainous region, where the group's main base is located. Enditem