Barzani says Turkey sent arms to KRG, PYD members treated in Turkey

ISTANBUL

REUTERS Photo

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani has said Turkey sent arms to the Kurdish government in northern Iraq but requested that this not be made public. He also said Turkey is treating more than 400 people from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) who were wounded during the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) advance on the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria.

Barzani told Sky News Arabic that Turkey was also among the countries that sent arms to the region when ISIL attacked Iraqi Kurdistan, adding that Turkey did not want this news to be announced.

“We have to tell the truth. On our first night when we were attacked by ISIL, Iran sent us two airplanes full of weapons. This was a great help for that moment … We would have expected it from Turkey too, and Turkey sent [arms] later but asked us not to announce it due to domestic conjuncture.

The presidential elections were near and ISIL was holding their hostages,” the KRG leader said.

Meanwhile, Turkey is treating some 422 PYD members injured in ISIL’s attacks, in the Suruç district of the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa. In addition to the civilians who fled from Kobane to Turkey, members of the PYD who have fought against ISIL since Oct. 4 and have been wounded in Kobane were also treated in Turkish hospitals.

High level military officers of the PYD are reported to be among the 422 PYD members being treated in Turkey.

Allegedly, the Suruç State Hospital, where the PYD members are being treated, is not serving civilians except in emergency cases, amid a massive patient increase over the past week.

Some 40 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants who were wounded in fights against ISIL have also been brought to Turkey for medical treatment.