ERBIL — France has strongly condemned the Wednesday’s shelling in a summer resort of Zakho district, reaffirming support for stability in the Kurdistan Region.

“France strongly condemns the indiscriminate strike which yesterday killed several people and injured many, including children, a tourist area in the village of Parakh, in the autonomous region of the Iraqi Kurdistan,” French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“France offers condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iraqi people and assures the wounded of its solidarity.”

The ministry noted that Iraqis have the right live in peace, and reiterated France’s support for the sovereignty of Iraq and stability of Kurdistan Region within it.

On Wednesday, July 20, an artillery shelling blamed on Turkey killed nine Iraqi tourists and injured 26 in a summer resort outside Zakho district, Kurdistan Region’s Duhok Province.

The attack has been widely condemned by the international community. However, Turkey reject responsibility in an official statement, putting the blame on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). [1]