12 Turkish soldiers have been killed in clashes with militants associated with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq, according to press releases from Turkey’s Defense Ministry released last Friday and Saturday (December 22-23). Following the deaths of the soldiers, Turkey’s domestic political realm has erupted with controversy regarding a joint declaration signed in the Turkish Parliament by four parties condemning the PKK attack. Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has the most notably absent signatory from the declaration, instead insisting on releasing their own declaration commemorating the fallen soldiers.
“Six of our heroic comrades were martyred and one of our heroic comrades was injured in the conflict that broke out with terrorists trying to infiltrate our base area on December 23, 2023, in the Operation Claw-Lock region. According to initial findings, 13 terrorists were neutralized in the conflict. We continue to be in contact with sources in the region. Sudden air operations have also been carried out against specified targets. May God have mercy on our martyrs who lost their lives in this incident. We are filled with deep pain and sadness. Our condolences to their grieving families, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation, and we wish a speedy recovery to our wounded.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wrote in his statement: “Turkey is prepared to pay a high price in order to prevent the construction of a terror network in Northern Iraq and Syria.”
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey’s far-right nationalist National Action Party (MHP), wrote: “Fear not, the blood spilled by our martyrs will not be for nothing; our struggle against terror will continue until the very end.”
Meral Akşener, leader of the center-right İYİ Party, wrote: “Today, our entire Turkish nation of 85 million has been wounded. But fear not, the celebration of the traitors who try to open our wounds will be short-lived.”
Reaction from the opposition
Over the past several days since the news broke, the CHP has repeatedly taken aim at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) reaction to the event as well as the alleged increase in soldier casualties under their rule. The CHP has as of yet refused to sign a joint declaration in parliament signed by AKP, IYI, Saadet, and MHP parties. Instead, Turkey’s largest opposition party has elected to release their own declaration commemorating the deaths as a protest against the ruling party. Explaining the CHP’s decision not to sign the joint declaration, CHP member Ali Mahir Başarır said “As the CHP, we will release our own individual statement. We will under no circumstances sign a declaration released by the AKP group.”
Taking aim at the AKP, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said: “For 20 years, the AKP has inflicted this on this nation…One night we lose six soldiers, the next night six more. We are giving up martyrs. Large flags have been hung everywhere. We submit a declaration to parliament, then the president puts one hand on the coffin of our martyr and one hand on the microphone so that he can politicize the issue. Then we forget about the issue until the next martyr dies. We cannot have this.”
An AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik described the CHP’s refusal to sign the joint declaration as “Shameful.”
In further criticism, the CHP head criticized the ruling government’s failure to declare a period of national mourning, saying: “Those who declared national mourning when the King of Saudi Arabia died have somehow failed to make a similar declaration this time around.”
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CHP head protested at Manisa funeral
In Manisa on Turkey’s western coast, Özel attended the funeral of soldier Enis Budak, along with other political figures such as Manisa Mayor Cengiz Ergün of the MHP. Following the funeral, several attendees protested Özel’s attendance, shouting slogans such as “Let us experience our pain, let’s not embarrass our martyrs,” taking aim at Özel’s and the CHP’s alleged politicization of the event.
Turkey’s expanding regional footprint
The deaths of 12 soldiers last week comes against the background of the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) increased involvement in regional conflicts in recent years. In addition to its occupation of parts of Northern Syria since 2016, Turkey has played a major role in Libya as well. A 2020 intervention by the TSK saw an increase in territory held by the interim government supported by Ankara. Turkey has also been active militarily in Somalia, opening a military base in Mogadishu in 2017 and supporting the internationally recognized Mogadishu government against Islamist separatists.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
