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The 2021 Shia militia attacks on Turkey were a series of attacks launched by various militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq in 2021, targeting Turkey and its presence in Iraq. The attacks continued until 2022.

History

In early 2021, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Eagle 2 against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan, sparking the reaction of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, which threatened military action against Turkey. On 15 February, Ashab al-Kahf carried out a missile attack on a Turkish military base in Iraq, as retaliation for the attacks against the PKK. In addition to the large PMF and Shia militia presence in Sinjar, three more PMF brigades were sent to the region to bolster its fighters.

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and Badr Organization also threatened to attack Turkey. The militia hostility to Turkey was perceived as an indirect Iranian warning to Turkey against the PKK operations, with Turkish media claiming that Iran supported the PKK, and that Iran had relations with the PKK and the PUK to undermine the KDP and Turkey.

On 23 February, Iraj Masjedi, Iranian ambassador to Iraq, claimed that "Turkish forces should not pose a threat or violate Iraqi soil", and criticized Turkish presence in Iraq. On 27 February, Fatih Yıldız, Turkish ambassador to Iraq, stated that Masjedi should be "the last person to lecture Turkey about respecting borders of Iraq". As the Shia militias were coordinating various attacks on American presence in Iraq, they had limited resources. However, after the end of the US coalition mission in Iraq in December 2021, the militias began to attack Turkey on a larger scale.

Kata'ib Hezbollah issued a statement saying that they would participate in the attacks on Turkey if it did not fully withdraw from Iraq and cease its operations. In 2022, the Shia militia attacks on Turkish positions had quadrupled. In April 2022, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock, causing more retaliatory militia airstrikes on Turkish bases, which increased between May and July 2022. The attacks were done by many different Shia militias. The PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire after the 2023 earthquakes, while the militias began targeting KRG oil pipes which led to Turkey.

References

1. Aslan, Dilara (2021-03-07). "Turkey-Iran tensions on rise ahead of possible Sinjar operation". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
2. "Iraqi group launches missile attack on Turkish military base". Mehr News Agency. February 15, 2021.
3. "ألوية من الحشد الشعبي وفصيلان شيعيان "على حين غرة" صوب جبهة سنجار". شفق نيوز (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
4. "Why Iran is shielding the PKK in Iraq". Why Iran is shielding the PKK in Iraq.
5. Alaaldin, Ranj (2024-12-12). "Iran Is Exploiting Divisions and U.S. Inaction in Iraqi Kurdistan". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
6. "ألوية من الحشد الشعبي وفصيلان شيعيان "على حين غرة" صوب جبهة سنجار". شفق نيوز (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
7. "Turkey must leave Iraq, respect borders: Iranian ambassador". Rudaw. 23 February 2021.
8. "Turkey summons Iran envoy over remarks on Iraq operations". www.aljazeera.com.
9. "Combat mission of international coalition in Iraq has ended - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
10. "Combat mission of international coalition in Iraq has ended - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
11. "Will Iranian-backed militias attack Turkey in Iraq? - analysis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
12. العزاوي, أنس (2022-07-26). "قصف حقل "كورمور" الغازي بكردستان العراق مجددا.. من المستفيد؟". الحل نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-11.