Turkish Air Force strikes several PKK militants in northern Iraq VIDEO

The Turkish Air Force has destroyed PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, according to the X page of the country’s National Defence Ministry.

“The Turkish Armed Forces neutralized six PKK terrorists in the area of Pençe-Kilit [Claw-Lock] and Gara operation in northern Iraq,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry’s statement.

Kahraman Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz, Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Gara ve Pençe-Kilit Operasyonu bölgelerinde tespit ettiği 6 PKK’lı teröristi etkisiz hâle getirdi.

Bölgede tek bir terörist kalmayıncaya kadar operasyonlarımız kararlılıkla sürecek!#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/ikewul0Kb8

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 21, 2025

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the PKK terror group’s hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border. The anti-terror operations came after last year’s PKK terror attack that killed 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. 

In February 2021, Türkiye launched a five-day Operation Claw-Eagle 2 targeting PKK positions in the Gara region of northern Iraq. The operation involved airstrikes and ground assaults, resulting in the deaths of 48 PKK fighters and the discovery of 13 Turkish hostages who had been held captive by the PKK.

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

By Khagan Isayev