Peregraf
A Turkish bombardment killed a husband and wife in the village of Bamshamsh, located in the Dinarta district of Akre, Duhok Governorate, on Monday.
The victims were identified as Jaafar Jalal and his wife, who lost their lives in the bombing targeting the area.
Sarbast Sabri, the director of Dinarta district, confirmed the incident to Peregraf. “The incident is true, both died in the village of Bamshamsh. We have sent an ambulance to the scene,” Sabri said.
In a separate development, tensions escalated in the Batifa district of Duhok province as heavy clashes between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish army persisted in recent days.
On the afternoon of January 26, 2025, a Peshmerga fighter was injured by an unidentified drone in the Batifa district. An Iraqi border guard officer in Zakho, speaking anonymously, told Peregraf that a Peshmerga vehicle was targeted, though it remains unclear whether the drone was operated by the PKK or the Turkish military.
Farhad Mahmood, the governor of Batifa, commented on the incident: “The incident itself was not significant, but it has been exaggerated. The Peshmerga, who was off duty at the time, was struck while driving home from the Zreze area. It is unclear whether the attack involved a projectile or a bullet.”
Amir Ali, head of health information in Zakho, identified the injured individual as Jassim Mohammed, 50 years old. “He sustained a shot wound to the back and is currently in stable condition,” Ali said.
In addition, a civilian’s home was destroyed recently during the clashes. According to a reliable source, the house was “blown up by the Turkish army and completely destroyed,” the border guard officer reported.
The officer attributed the escalation in Batifa to ongoing clashes between PKK guerrillas and Turkish forces, stating: “The fighting lasted from last night until this morning.” He also emphasized that border guard forces are not involved in the conflict, saying, “We are not part of the fighting and remain stationed at our designated posts.”
These events follow the deaths of two Peshmerga fighters during a clash between PKK guerrillas and Iraqi border guards in Batifa three days earlier.
In response to the escalating violence, the main road connecting Batifa and Begova districts was temporarily closed.
“The road was closed for a short period but has since been reopened. The security forces now have full control of the situation, and there is no cause for public concern,” the governor of Batifa reassured.