Late on Friday, two villages in Duhok province’s Amedi area, Sargali and Barchi, were reportedly hit by suspected Turkish artillery fire, causing fear among villagers, as reported by locals to Rudaw.

Both Sargali and Barchi villages are situated in areas known for frequent clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

According to Sherwan Sargali from Sargali village, the shelling was attributed to Turkey, indicating an escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Residents of Barchi village reported that seven shells struck their village on Friday, with resident Lazgin Barchi stating that they were unsure of the source of the shelling.

These incidents mark two days of continuous shelling, instilling fear among the residents of the affected villages.

Turkey has recently intensified its efforts to address the PKK threat along its border with the Kurdistan Region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced earlier this month that Ankara is nearing completion of a security zone aimed at resolving border security issues permanently.

Erdogan urged all stakeholders in the region to respect Ankara’s security strategy, warning of potential tensions for those who fail to comply.

In a significant diplomatic move, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and the head of its intelligence agency (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, visited Baghdad for a second round of high-level security talks earlier this month, following a meeting held in Ankara in December.

In response to these talks, the Iraqi National Security Council announced a ban on PKK activities within Iraq, citing the group’s threat to both Baghdad and Ankara.

The escalating tensions and recent incidents underscore the complex dynamics in the region and the ongoing struggle to address security concerns along the Turkey-Iraq border.