Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces “neutralized” five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The terrorists were taken down by uncrewed aerial vehicles in Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry noted in a statement.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" 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 last year in April 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 European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.