UPDATE 2 - 6 Turkish soldiers killed in northern Iraq terror attack

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Six Turkish soldiers were killed in a terror attack in northern Iraq, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Five of our brave comrades were martyred in a clash with terrorists attempting to infiltrate our base in the Operation Claw-Lock zone," the ministry said in an initial statement, adding that eight soldiers were also injured, three of them critically.

The wounded were transferred to hospital, the press release said, adding that at least 12 terrorists were neutralized during the fighting.

The ministry later announced that one of the soldiers severely injured became “a martyr despite all the interventions made to save them.”

It expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, extended condolences to the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

- 'Türkiye to fight against PKK terror group until end'

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz offered his condolences, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured personnel.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also condoled with the victims, and hoped that the wounded soldiers will quickly return to health.

"We will fight against the PKK terrorist organization both within and outside our borders until the end,” Fidan said on X.

Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also condemned terrorism and its supporters, and reiterated Türkiye’s determination to eradicate the menace. “We will not let the blood of any martyr go in vain,” he said.

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 the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.