Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Esra Tekin

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

The ministry said on X that the terrorists were targeted in the regions of Hakurk, Kandil and Operation Claw-Lock zone.

“Our fight against terrorism continues active and decisively!” the ministry added.

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

In its nearly 40-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.

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

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