At a Glance

• The Duhok Governor clarified that the logging occurred entirely inside Turkish territory, not the Kurdistan Region.
• Authorities possess proof identifying the exact logging locations based on terrain and road networks.
• The Governor confirmed the vehicles entered the Region but noted border movements remain fully visible.

Duhok Governor Ali Tatar stated that no logging occurred within the Kurdistan Region but rather in Turkey, dismissing reports and footage circulating on social media of the incidents over the past few days. 

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• The Duhok Governor stated that authorities possess evidence demonstrating that these trees were logged inside Turkey.
• Tatar noted that the authorities' findings reveal that all of these trees were felled inside Turkish territory and subsequently brought across into the Kurdistan Region.

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Speaking during a press conference on Sunday regarding the reported logging in the Barwari Bala area, located in the northernmost part of Amedi within the Duhok Governorate, Governor Tatar stated that the relevant institutions of both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government have conducted a thorough investigation into the matter.

He reaffirmed that “these trees were not cut down within the Kurdistan Region," stressing that they have evidence proving the logging occurred inside Turkey and the exact locations where they were felled are fully identified.

The governor explained that the vehicles used during the logging operations are clearly visible, adding that any border crossing into the Region would be readily apparent to both authorities and local residents.

He further mentioned that the vehicles shown in the circulating videos have indeed entered the Kurdistan Region, expressing hope that “our people do not easily fall prey to unverified claims solely on social media.” 

Tatar highlighted that the geographical terrain and roads at the logging sites explicitly confirm these locations lie outside the territory of the Kurdistan Region.

FYI

For several days, numerous video clips have circulated on social media platforms showing trucks and tractors loaded with chopped timber, reportedly filmed in the Barwari Bala area. 

The footage has sparked widespread public concern amid allegations that the logging operations are being conducted by the Turkish military or commercial entities. Cross-border logging incidents have repeatedly triggered public outcries along the Duhok frontier over the past several years, most notably in May 2021 when extensive deforestation was documented in the Berwari Bala region. 

During today’s press conference, the Duhok Governor acknowledged that while some trees had been cut down within certain villages of the Kurdistan Region roughly a year ago, no such activities are currently taking place.