Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq – A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Friday resulted in multiple fatalities, including two journalists, according to local authorities and news reports.

The strike targeted a vehicle associated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near the city of Sulaymaniyah, a major urban center in the Kurdish region.

Regional authorities reported that the car was struck by the drone while traveling on a rural road. The attack resulted in the deaths of a senior PKK official, his guard, and his driver. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released.

In a separate but related incident, the drone strike also claimed the lives of two journalists who were covering the ongoing conflict in the region.

The journalists, who were reportedly working for local news outlets, were caught in the crossfire and died at the scene. Their deaths have drawn widespread condemnation and raised concerns about the safety of journalists operating in conflict zones.

The Kurdish region has been a flashpoint of conflict between the Turkish government and the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group that has been fighting for greater autonomy and rights for Kurds in Turkey since the 1980s.

Turkey has conducted numerous drone strikes in the region as part of its counter-terrorism operations against the PKK.

The strike on Friday is part of a broader pattern of intensified Turkish military actions in northern Iraq. Turkish authorities have justified these operations as necessary measures to neutralize PKK elements that they claim pose a direct threat to Turkey’s national security.

However, these operations often lead to civilian casualties and have been criticized by human rights organizations and international observers for their impact on non-combatants.

The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has condemned the attack and called for an investigation into the incident. In a statement, the KRG’s Ministry of Interior described the drone strike as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and expressed deep concern over the loss of civilian lives, including the journalists.

The ministry has urged both local and international authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.

The presence of journalists in conflict zones is crucial for providing accurate and timely information to the public. The deaths of these two reporters have underscored the risks faced by media professionals in areas of active conflict.

International press freedom organizations have called for an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding their deaths and have emphasized the need for greater protection for journalists working in hazardous environments.

As tensions continue to simmer in northern Iraq, the incident highlights the ongoing volatility of the region and the complex dynamics of the conflict involving the PKK, Turkish military operations, and the Kurdish authorities.

The impact on civilian populations and journalists underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and a renewed focus on diplomatic solutions to the enduring conflict.

The Turkish government has yet to comment on the specifics of Friday’s strike, and it remains to be seen how this latest incident will affect the broader geopolitical and humanitarian landscape in the region.