Turkish soldier dies of wounds from terrorist harassment fire in northern Iraq

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – A Turkish soldier who was wounded by harassment fire during Türkiye’s anti-terror operation in northern Iraq died of his injuries, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Monday.

Specialized sergeant Mehmet Emre Teke was wounded when terrorists opened harassmet fire in Türkiye’s Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said in a statement.

Teke succumbed to his wounds in a hospital.

The ministry extended its condolences to Teke's family, the Turkish Armed Forces and the entire nation.

The terrorists' affiliation was not specified, but the PKK terror group has been known to be active in the region.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the PKK’s hideouts in the Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq located near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by two operations – Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle – launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding 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 the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.