Turkish soldier killed in terror attack in northern Iraq

By Faruk Zorlu

A Turkish soldier was killed in a terror attack in northern Iraq, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the ministry said: "Our heroic fellow soldier, Infantry Specialist Sergeant Hikmet Aslan, was wounded during a terrorist harassment fire on Tuesday in the Operation Claw-Lock area in northern Iraq and was transported to hospital. Despite all medical interventions at the hospital, he could not be saved and became a martyr."

The ministry also extended its condolences to the family of the soldier, 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 in April 2022 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.