Turkish drone shot down in Kirkuk as Ankara engages in diplomatic talks with Baghdad
TAI Aksungur, unmanned combat aerial vehicle built by Turkish Aerospace Industries for the Turkish Armed Force
A Turkish Aksungur armed drone was shot down in the city of Kirkuk, Iraq, on Thursday morning, sparking immediate diplomatic activity between Ankara and Baghdad. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:39 a.m. local time, has prompted both nations to initiate discussions to clarify the circumstances surrounding the downing of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Following the incident, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had made contact with the Iraqi government to coordinate an investigation. A spokesperson for the ministry, Oncu Keceli, emphasized the importance of uncovering all details of the event, stating, “Coordination has been established with the Iraqi authorities to fully clarify the incident in Kirkuk. Türkiye’s resolve in combating terrorism remains steadfast.”
Reports from various sources verified that the UAV belonged to Türkiye. The drone crash, which took place near the center of Kirkuk, led to fires in several homes. However, no casualties or injuries were reported, and the fires have since been brought under control.
In the aftermath of the crash, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz met with Hasan Turan, the President of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, and Ersat Salihi, a member of the Iraqi Parliament representing Kirkuk. The discussions, held in Ankara, focused on the recent developments in Kirkuk. The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated its ongoing support for the Turkmen community in Iraq, stating, “Türkiye will continue to support the Iraqi Turkmens.”
In a related political development, Turkmen representatives in the Kirkuk Provincial Council boycotted a recent council meeting due to a controversial governor election. The council, which is comprised of 16 members, held a vote on August 10 in Baghdad,
resulting in the selection of Rebwar Taha from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) as governor and Arab member Mohammed Hafiz as council chairman. However, the election process has been contested by several groups, including the Turkmen, who have since appealed to Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court for a ruling on the matter.
Turkmen representative Sevsen Abdulvahid Ceddu stated that they would not participate in any further meetings until the court’s decision is announced.
