Terrorist bomb kills Turkish soldier in northern Iraq

By Zehra Nur Duz

A Turkish soldier was killed in a terror attack in an anti-terror operation zone in northern Iraq, near the countries' border, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The soldier, Unal Sipahi, died Monday from the explosion of an improvised explosive device planted by PKK terrorists in Türkiye’s Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said in a statement.

Another soldier was injured in the explosion, it said, adding that the injured soldier was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.

The ministry extended its condolences to Sipahi's family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the nation, and also wished the injured soldier a speedy recovery.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April to target the PKK terror organization's hideouts in Iraq's northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding out in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.