![Turkish soldiers fire a cannon at a military base during winter near Turkey-Iraq border in Daglica village of Yuksekova district of Hakkari, Turkey on January 20, 2019 [Özkan Bilgin / Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20190124_2_34574570_41031371.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
A Turkish soldier was killed during an anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, Turkiye’s National Defense Ministry said on Sunday, Anadolu reports.
Mumin Carkci, an infantry specialist sergeant, was killed in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device on Saturday, according to the ministry.
In a statement, it extended condolences to Carkci’s family and wished them strength and patience to bear the loss.
Turkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last week to target PKK hideouts in Iraq’s Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions. It preceded Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were launched in 2020, to root out terrorists who hide in northern Iraq and plot cross-border attacks in Turkiye.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.