Four Turkish soldiers killed in northern Iraq fighting

Turkey is preventing PKK forces based mostly in northern Iraq, most lately launching ‘Operation Claw-Lock’ in April.

Turkish soldier
A Turkish military commando patrols an space close to the Turkey-Iraq border [File: Burak Kara/Getty Images]

4 Turkish troopers have been killed in a conflict with fighters in northern Iraq, in accordance with an announcement by Turkey’s defence ministry.

The ministry mentioned late on Sunday that the incident occurred in a area the place Turkey has been finishing up a cross-border operation known as Claw-Lock.

Operations within the area are nonetheless ongoing, the ministry assertion added.

Turkey recurrently carries out operations in Iraq, which lies on its southern border, as a part of its offensive towards Kurdistan Employees’ Occasion (PKK) members based mostly within the Kurdish area of northern Iraq.

The PKK launched an armed insurrection towards the Turkish state in 1984, first looking for independence and extra lately, autonomy. Greater than 40,000 individuals have been killed within the battle.

Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in April to focus on the PKK’s hideouts in northern Iraq.

The PKK is considered a “terrorist” group by Turkey, america and the European Union.

Ankara’s army operations in northern Iraq have been criticised by the Iraqi authorities, which has accused Turkey of failing to respect Iraq’s territorial integrity.

The Iraqi authorities mentioned that Turkey had “blatantly violated” Iraq’s sovereignty and summoned Ankara’s ambassador to Baghdad after an assault on a resort in northern Iraq’s Duhok province in July was blamed on Turkey.

The assault left eight individuals lifeless.

Turkey denied accountability, and mentioned that the assault had been carried out by “terrorists”.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post