Turkish security forces eliminate 11 terrorists in northern Iraq, Syria

Turkish security forces eliminate 11 terrorists in operations targeting PKK hideouts in northern Iraq and Syria, emphasizing ongoing efforts against terrorism

Turkish security forces eliminated 11 terrorists in northern Iraq and northern Syria, as announced by the National Defense Ministry on Sunday.

“Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces have eliminated 10 PKK terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock area in northern Iraq, and identified and killed 1 PKK/YPG terrorist in the Operation Euphrates Shield region in northern Syria,” stated the ministry on X.

“For terrorists, nowhere is safe,” emphasized the ministry.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – recognized as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

PKK terrorists frequently take refuge in northern Iraq to plan and execute cross-border attacks into Türkiye.

The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

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

Since 2016, Ankara has conducted a series of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the establishment of a PKK/YPG terror corridor and facilitate the peaceful resettlement of local residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

Source: AA