PARIS
France’s Foreign Ministry on Friday refused to comment on the crash of a helicopter in northern Iraq that was carrying PKK terrorists.
The chopper, a Eurocopter AS350, crashed in Iraq’s Duhok region on Wednesday, and a day later Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) said some of those on board were members of the PKK terrorist organization.
The Eurocopter AS350 helicopter, also known as "Squirrel", was a light engine developed and produced by French companies.
In response to an Anadolu query about the incident, the French Foreign Ministry said: “We have no comment.”
The KRG earlier said it had contacted the Iraqi government, US-led international coalition forces and Türkiye regarding the crash in Duhok.
It said the helicopter did not belong to the PKK terrorist group, but a number of its members were on board the aircraft.
Initial findings indicated that it was a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter and some of the crash casualties happened to be PKK terrorists.
A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain who owned the helicopter.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
* Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara
