Turkmen minister in northern Iraq extends condolences for Turkish soldiers killed in PKK attack

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) — An Iraqi Turkmen official in northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) expressed his condolences on Saturday for nine Turkish soldiers killed in an attack by the PKK terrorist organization.

"May God have mercy on our heroic soldiers who were martyred in the conflict with PKK terrorists in the Claw-Lock Operation zone," said Maruf Aydin, the minister of state for minority affairs in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

"My condolences to Türkiye," Aydin said on X, wishing patience to the families of the fallen soldiers, offering condolences to the Turkish people, and expressing hope for the swift recovery of those injured in the attack.

After the deadly attack, top officials in Türkiye convened in a security meeting Saturday, under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"This struggle will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized and the terrorist swamps in Iraq and Syria are completely drained," the country's Communications Directorate said in a statement on the outcome of the meeting, held in Istanbul.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. The group also has a Syrian branch, known as the YPG.

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

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding out 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.