Turkey’s military operations in northern Iraq force evacuation of three more villages

NOHADRA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Turkey’s ongoing military operations in northern Iraq have forced the evacuation of three additional villages in Nohadra (Dohuk), Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Residents of the Dinarta region in Aqrah (Akre) abandoned their homes due to intensified airstrikes, ground incursions, and escalating threats from Turkish forces.

Villages Under Attack

The villages of Nbakhi, Birkakori, and Kafia, located in the Gare mountains, have faced continued attacks by Turkish forces. Prolonged clashes between Turkish troops and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas have left residents unable to stay.

In Kafia, two civilians lost their lives due to Turkish airstrikes. A humanitarian organization monitoring Turkey’s military activities reported an escalation in attacks on PKK positions, warning that a full-scale ground invasion might soon accompany ongoing drone strikes.

Threats and Forced Evictions

Reports indicate that Turkish intelligence operatives are actively recruiting individuals for reconnaissance missions in the Gare region. Villagers have been directly threatened, warned to vacate their homes within the month or face the consequences for their safety.

Widespread Displacement and Indigenous Communities at Risk

Turkey’s military campaign has already led to the evacuation of over 183 villages in the Nohadra area, with 602 more at risk of forced displacement.

Many affected villages are home to the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community, an indigenous people of Mesopotamia. These attacks have deepened the existential threat to their cultural heritage and demographic presence in their ancestral homeland, historically known as Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia).