Türkiye 'neutralizes' 2 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Turkish Armed Forces neutralized two PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, said the country’s National Defense Ministry on Friday.

Two PKK terrorists detected in the Operation Claw-Lock operation region in northern Iraq were "neutralized" by Turkish forces, the ministry said on X.

"Our operations will continue without pause," it added.

Terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

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

Türkiye in 2022 launched Operation Claw-Lock to target the terror group PKK's hideouts in Iraq's northern Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.

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

This March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged, referring to the fight against cross-border terrorist attacks: “Issues concerning our borders with Iraq will be permanently resolved this summer.”