Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 13 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Kubra Agacyetistiren

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces “neutralized” a total of 13 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The terrorists were targeted in the Operation Claw-Lock zone and Hakurk region, the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralized” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK terrorists often hide out across the border in northern Iraq to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

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 launched after operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle 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. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar