Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that 480 militants of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have been neutralized in northern Iraq since the start of Operation Claw-Castle.
⠀
Turkey launched a military operation in April against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. Special Forces and the Air Force are involved in the operation. The Office of the President of Iraq said that the Turkish operation poses a threat to national security, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Turkish side aims to ensure the security of its borders.
⠀
“Since the start of Operation Pençe Kilit, 480 PKK terrorists have been neutralized in northern Iraq. The fight against terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated,” Akar said.
⠀
The head of the Turkish military department recalled that “earlier, in the Zap region in northern Iraq, PKK terrorists attacked the Turkish military.”
⠀
“Immediately after the incident with the attack, Turkish special forces launched an operation against terrorists. To date, 13 terrorists have been neutralized, including militants involved in the death of Turkish soldiers,” Akar said.
⠀
The armed conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party began in Turkey in 1984 and resumed in 2015. In northern Iraq, there are PKK bases against which the Turkish Armed Forces conduct air and ground operations. The presence of the Turkish military in the Zlikan camp northeast of Mosul has long been a source of controversy between Baghdad and Ankara, which justifies the presence as a need to fight the banned PKK in Turkey.
⠀
The head of the Turkish military department recalled that “earlier, in the Zap region in northern Iraq, PKK terrorists attacked the Turkish military.”
⠀
“Immediately after the incident with the attack, Turkish special forces launched an operation against terrorists. To date, 13 terrorists have been neutralized, including militants involved in the death of Turkish soldiers,” Akar said.
⠀
The armed conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party began in Turkey in 1984 and resumed in 2015. In northern Iraq, there are PKK bases against which the Turkish Armed Forces conduct air and ground operations. The presence of the Turkish military in the Zlikan camp northeast of Mosul has long been a source of controversy between Baghdad and Ankara, which justifies the presence as a need to fight the banned PKK in Turkey.
