Türkiye “neutralizes” 2 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
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REGION  28 June 2024 - 20:54

Turkish forces have "neutralized" two PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Turkish National Defence Ministry announced on June 28.

Turkish Armed Forces detected and "neutralized" two PKK terrorists in Operation Claw-Lock region in northern Iraq, the ministry said, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

Kahraman Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimizin terör ve teröristle mücadelesi gece gündüz, dağ bayır demeden kararlılıkla devam ediyor.

Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Pençe-Kilit Operasyonu bölgesinde tespit edilen 2 PKK’lı terörist etkisiz hâle getirildi.#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/H1Mek6oUvD

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 28, 2024

"The heroic Turkish Armed Forces continue their determined fight against terrorism day and night, across mountains and plains," it added.

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

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

Terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

Türkiye in 2022 launched Operation Claw-Lock to target the terror group PKK's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions.

Meanwhile, PKK terrorists have begun setting fire to forests in northern Iraq in an attempt to conceal their whereabouts and evade capture.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defence reported the incident on its X account.

TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜ PKK'DAN ALÇAK PLAN:

ORMANLARI YAKARAK GİZLENMEYE ÇALIŞIYORLAR

Irak'ın kuzeyinde kaçacak delik bulamayan PKK'lı teröristler ormanları yakmaya başladı.

Dergele köyündeki sivilleri kalkan yaparak birliklerimize havan atışı yapan teröristler, yerlerinin tespit… pic.twitter.com/LOkoGOBO9L

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 27, 2024

According to the ministry, PKK terrorists, who have previously used civilians as human shields while attacking Turkish forces with mortars from the village of Dergele, have now resorted to burning forests. This tactic is intended to obscure their location and escape detection by Turkish troops.

The ministry emphasized the PKK's awareness of the Turkish Armed Forces' sensitivity to civilians and residential areas.

"As they have done for many years, they are trying to put local civilians at risk," the statement reads. Additionally, the PKK has attempted to deceive the local population by falsely claiming that the forest fires were caused by Turkish military actions targeting terrorist positions.

The ministry further noted that the PKK endangers the lives and properties of civilians by indiscriminately firing in villages they raid. Despite these actions, the Turkish Armed Forces remain committed to maintaining their sensitivity towards civilians, residential areas, the environment, and nature.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defence reiterated its dedication to protecting innocent lives while continuing its operations against terrorist threats in the region.

Caliber.Az