Turkish soldier succumbs to injuries from terror attack in northern Iraq

By Fatma Sevinc Cetin

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish soldier succumbed to his injuries from a terror attack in Ankara’s anti-terror operation zone in northern Iraq, Turkish authorities said on Monday.

Abdullah Kose, who was wounded on Nov. 20, later died from his injuries he sustained in a clash with terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock area, the National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Five terrorists were neutralized during the clash, it added.

“Operations continue in the region,” the ministry added.

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 group’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 EU –has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.