Iraqi priests warn of increasing displacement of Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Christians as a result of Turkish bombing

NOHADRA, Iraq — Iraqi Christian priests have warned of the negative repercussions of the recent Turkish military attacks on northern Iraq, saying that they will worsen the security situation in the region and could lead to further emigration of Christians from the country.

Father Emmanuel Yukhana, a Priest of the Assyrian Church of the East who runs a Christian aid program in northern Iraq, told Catholic News Service that, “Residents of Christian villages were forced to flee their homes because of the Turkish military attacks that claimed to be attacking PKK fighters.”

“But in recent weeks,” continue Father Yukhana, “the Turkish army has expanded its attacks targeting several Christian villages near the Turkish border in the northern province of Nohadra [Duhok], damaging property and houses and setting fields on fire while Christians fled their homes again.”

Father Samir Yusuf, a priest of a Catholic Chaldean Parish in the Diocese of Amadiya, told Asia News that the areas he services, “were bombed more aggressively and forced families to flee their homes to escape these attacks.”

Father Yusuf said he hoped the Iraqi government would pressure Turkey to end its military operations in Iraq.

Christians hoping to return to Nineveh Plains is also facing challenges, with only 45% of Christians returning to their homes in the region.

A recent report stated that there are 102,000 Christians living there in Nineveh Plains in 2014, but their numbers have dwindled to 36,000 and could drop further by 2024 if stability and security is not established.

Since mid-June, Turkey has engaged in a cross-border military operation ostensibly targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party which has been in armed conflict with the Turkish state since the 1980s. However, Turkish drone and air strikes have repeatedly targeted areas without a PKK presence, according to locals.

The repeated Turkish shelling have emptied a number of Christian villages along the Iraqi–Turkish border.

Human Rights Watch has criticized Turkey for the carelessness of its military operation which has killed over a dozen civilians and displaced thousands more, many of whom are Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Christians and Yezidis.