Reuters: A senior official in Iraq’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday Iranian forces breached the Iraqi border in Kurdistan twice in the past two weeks, a day after Tehran denied such allegations.
BAGHDAD, May 2 (Reuters) – A senior official in Iraq’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday Iranian forces breached the Iraqi border in Kurdistan twice in the past two weeks, a day after Tehran denied such allegations.
Iraq had earlier confirmed remarks by a local Kurdish official that one breach of the border had taken place on April 21 in response to rebels attacking Iranian positions. Tuesday was the first mention of a second breach, on April 26.
“The first was on April 21 and the second was on April 26, when their forces progressed 5 km (3 miles) inside Iraq and shelled their targets,” Major General Abdul-Aziz Mohammed told news conference.
“This must be solved through diplomatic channels. The Foreign Ministry will try to resolve the issue with the Iranians,” he added.
Iraq says the shelling in northern Iraq targeted an offshoot of a rebel Kurdish group based in Turkey.
