UPDATE - France refuses to comment on Iraq crash of helicopter carrying PKK terrorists

CHANGES DECK, ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Umit Donmez

PARIS (AA) – France’s Foreign Ministry on Friday refused to comment on the crash of a helicopter in northern Iraq that was carrying PKK terrorists.

The chopper, a Eurocopter AS350, crashed in Iraq’s Duhok region on Wednesday, and a day later Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) said some of those on board were members of the PKK terrorist organization.

The Eurocopter AS350 helicopter, also known as "Squirrel", was a light engine developed and produced by French companies.

In response to an Anadolu query about the incident, the French Foreign Ministry said: “We have no comment.”

The KRG earlier said it had contacted the Iraqi government, US-led international coalition forces and Türkiye regarding the crash in Duhok.

It said the helicopter did not belong to the PKK terrorist group, but a number of its members were on board the aircraft.

Initial findings indicated that it was a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter and some of the crash casualties happened to be PKK terrorists.

A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain who owned the helicopter.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara