Source denies reports of US strikes on Turkish consulate in Mosul

ANKARA

A source in Ankara have denied reports claiming that air strikes conducted by the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on Nov. 11 hit Turkey’s consulate in Mosul.

The strikes targeted many key buildings including ISIL’s central headquarters in the city, the Sharia court, the police post and Turkey’s consulate, which has allegedly been used by the jihadist group for administrative purposes, Iraqi Kurdish online news website Rudaw reported.

But a source who formerly worked at the consulate denied the report, saying the strikes hit another building next to the Turkish mission.

ISIL abducted 46 Turkish citizens after storming the consulate on June 10 following its capture of Mosul. The hostages were freed after 101 of captivity on Sept. 20 at the end of a long process of negotiation.

Meanwhile, Lebanon-based Al-Monitor website cited Iraqi officials as saying the consulate was used by ISIL as its main headquarters in the city. The allegations were not confirmed by Ankara, but prompted the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to file a parliamentary question to the government.

Rudaw also claimed that a large number of ISIL militants were killed and injured as a result of the strikes.