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Turkiye 'neutralizes' 3 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

February 5, 2023 at 11:21 am

Turkish soldiers as the committee including the generals, appointed by the Ministry of National Defense, in Hatay, Turkiye [Cem Genco – Anadolu Agency]

Turkish security forces “neutralized” three PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

The terrorists were targeted in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said in a statement.

“We are determined to eradicate terrorism at its source,” it added.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK terrorists have hideouts in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, which they use to plot attacks on Turkiye.

Turkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the terrorist group PKK’s hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by two operations – Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle – launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding out in northern Iraq and plotting 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 more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

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