What are Turkish Armed Forces aiming for in Iraqi Kurdistan?

On January 28, 2024, Turkish armed forces began construction of a military road network in Iraqi Kurdistan. This network connected the military bases built during 2021 in the 'Claw Lightning' operation in the Berwary Balla area of the Kani Masi subdistrict. Turkey constructed this road network in just a few weeks and reached 9km deep inside Iraqi Kurdistan. On April 10, 2024, the Iraqi border guard force constructed two military bases in the villages around Batifa. These military bases, established on Mily Siri and Chapere Englis, were built to stop Turkey from advancing further in Iraq Kurdistan. The construction of these two bases allowed hundreds of families from Kashan, Shilan, Banke and dozens of other villages to return to their villages. Some villagers had been prevented from visiting their lands for 13 years. Shortly after construction was completed, the Turkish Armed Forces began military advancements in the villages of the Berwary Balla area, located in the east of the Batifa district.

In the last ten days, Turkish armed forces have entered the villages of Ura, Seraro, Aradina, Keste, Chalke and Babire through the military roads built in January this year. During the last three days, nearly 1000 Turkish soldiers were witnessed going back and forth between the Gre-Barukh military base (Gre-Barukh is the most extensive Turkish military base in Iraqi Kurdistan, which was built in 1997) and Metina mountain behind Bamarne subdistrict. Since the morning of June 25, Turkish Armed Forces have set up a checkpoint between Babire and Kani Belave villages, and whoever travels on that road will have their IDs checked by Turkish soldiers.

Turkish troops moving through Kesta village

Turkey's current goal is to establish a security line from Shiladze to Batifa. This security line travels through Deraluke, Bamarne, Kani Mase and Begova subdistricts. The Turkish army would control all the villages, mountains, lands, valleys, and rivers behind this line. In the future, military clashes will happen inside urban areas, and the towns will be the battlegrounds.

Another goal of Turkey's military operation is to reach Hawt Tabaq mountain through Shiladze and then control the Gara mountain range. If this happens, the KRG will lose 70% to 75% of its power in the Duhok governorate. At the same time, this military maneuvering is a response to the Iraq border guards' recent base building to prevent Turkey from further entering Iraqi Kurdistan this year.

If Turkey achieves their goal in this military operation, then dozens of villages and towns will face serious threats, and hundreds of villagers and civilians will be displaced. An essential portion of Kurdistan's land would be in the hands of the Turkish Armed Forces, and it would be almost impossible to take it back to the KRG and Iraqi government's power.