Turkey: Diplomats convey condolences over 13 martyrs

By Serife Cetin, Dilara Hamit and Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Diplomatic missions in Turkey on Monday conveyed messages of condolences after 13 Turkish citizens were martyred by the terrorist group PKK in Gara, northern Iraq.

"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, we express our deepest & heartfelt condolences for the loss of 13 Innocent Turkish Nationals by terrorists. We condemn these inhumane & barbaric acts in the strongest terms, & call for more concerted fight against terrorism," Amir Ramin, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Ankara, said on Twitter.

Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown also said he was deeply saddened by the news that 13 Turkish personnel and civilians were killed in Iraq and wished condolences to the relatives and the Turkish nation.

Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, also offered his condolences to the Turkish public for the terror attack, saying in a statement, “We would like to express our heartfelt sympathies to their bereaved families and Turkey.”

Italy’s Embassy also said they were deeply saddened by the terrorist incident, adding that they join the suffering of the Turkish people and government in this sad time, and extended their deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

"Terrible news about 13 Turkish civilians and military personnel killed in Iraq. My condolences to all their loved ones," said Erik Weststrate, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of the Netherlands.

The Belgian Embassy to Turkey on Twitter decried the attack, saying: "We are deeply saddened by the killing of 13 Turkish citizens in a terror attack in northern Iraq and we offer our condolences to their families as well as to the Turkish people."

France’s Embassy also conveyed condolences to the families of the victims.

"On February 13, We learned with sorrow the news of the death of 13 Turkish citizens in northern Iraq. We offer our sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives," the embassy said on Twitter.

The Greek Embassy in Ankara said it "deplores" the death of Turkish citizens in the northern Iraq, and extended "sincere condolences" to their families.

On Twitter, Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey said in Turkish that he learned with "deep sorrow" the news of the martyrdom of Turkish citizens in northern Iraq.

"I express my sincere condolences to the Turkish people and share the pain of the relatives and families of those who lost their lives," Andrii Sybiha said.

Canada’s Embassy shared a message of condolence on Twitter.

"We deplore the killing of Turkish citizens in the north of Iraq and would like to express our most sincere condolences to our NATO ally Turkey and the families affected by this tragedy," it said.

Norway’s Ambassador to Turkey Erling Skjonsberg said he was "deeply saddened" for the 13 Turkish citizens who lost their lives.

"I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the Turkish nation," he added.

The bodies of 13 Turkish civilians were found during Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Sunday.

He added that Turkish operations all but cleared the region of the terror group.

During the campaign, more than 50 terror targets, including ammunition depots, caves, and bases, were destroyed, he said.

Three Turkish soldiers were martyred and three others injured in the land operation, noted Akar.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.