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Turkish military denies 'warplanes over Iraq' claim

Türkiye Materials 8 August 2014 03:12 (UTC +04:00)
The Turkish military has denied claims that Turkish aircraft have crossed into Iraqi airspace, Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkish military denies 'warplanes over Iraq' claim

The Turkish military has denied claims that Turkish aircraft have crossed into Iraqi airspace, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a written statement released Thursday evening, the General Staff said: "The allegations that Turkish warplanes conducted flights inside Iraqi airspace on August 7 do not reflect the reality."

Newspaper reports in Turkey have alleged that Turkish F-16 jets and drones had flown over northern Iraq to track the movement of Islamic State militants.

Recently, IS fighters took control of Iraq's Makhmour town, home to 12,000 Turkish Kurds.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Shiite Arabs fleeing IS militants, formerly known as ISIL, have been stranded at Erbil coach station for days as they wait to leave for cities in the south.

Having fled their homes, the displaced families don't have enough money to continue their journey.

In addition, Iraq's Ezidi minority is now facing displacement along with other minorities. They fled from Sinjar, near Mosul, after IS seized it on Sunday.

Around 60 Ezidis, including women and children, arrived in Uludere in Turkey's Sirnak province, late on Thursday and were taken to Silopi.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate has said it will build a camp at the Habur border post between Turkey and Iraq for the displaced Ezidis, who are part of an ancient religious sect that is an offshoot of Zoroastrianism.

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