Turkey conducted airstrikes in northern Iraq, “neutralizing” 20 members of the outlawed PKK Kurdish militant group and destroying 29 targets after Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash, the Defence Ministry said. The ministry stated that the airstrikes were carried out in the Hakurk, Metina, Gara, and Qandil regions, targeting caves, bunkers, shelters, and oil facilities. It also claimed to have “neutralized” 20 militants, which typically means killed. The clash resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish soldiers and injuries to four others. Turkish forces have been conducting a cross-border operation called “Claw-Lock” in Iraq as part of the country’s offensive against PKK militants. The PKK has been designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, and has been in conflict with the Turkish state since 1984.
Turkey Announces ‘Neutralization’ of 20 PKK Members in Northern Iraq
