A Turkish drone strike on Friday, 23rd of August, 2024 has killed three people in northern Iraq.

According to information released by the Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service, a vehicle, which belonged to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), was hit by the drone strike near the northern city of Sulaimaniya.

A senior PKK member, his driver and a guard were killed in the attack, the statement added.

However, Iraqi Kurdistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said in a later statement that two of the victims were journalists and were not members of an armed group.

The two women journalists killed in the attack were Gulîstan Tara from Batman in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur) and Hero Bahadin from Chatir Company. The vehicle belonged to the Chatir Media Company.

In addition to the fatalities, six other people were injured in the attack, including journalist Rêbîn Bekir, who also works for the Chatir Media Company.

In response to the attack, Karwan Enwer, head of the Süleymaniye branch of the Kurdistan Regional Journalists’ Union, issued a statement condemning the attack.

Enwer expressed outrage at the targeting of journalists and vowed to bring the issue to the attention of international organisations.

He stressed that journalists should be protected under international law and should not be targeted, even in conflict zones.