Turkish airstrikes neutralise five PKK militants in northern Iraq VIDEO

The Turkish Defence Ministry has announced that the Turkish Armed Forces' recent airstrike in northern Iraq led to the elimination of five members of the PKK terrorist group.

The operation, which took place on September 5, targeted strongholds of the PKK in the region, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Turkish Defence Ministry’s message on X.

Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz, terör örgütü PKK’yı ininde vurmaya devam ediyor.

5 Eylül tarihinde icra edilen hava harekâtında; Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Gara’da 4, Hakurk'ta ise 1 olmak üzere toplam 5 PKK’lı teröristin etkisiz hâle getirildiği belirlendi.#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/bbzVBCIP93

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) September 9, 2024

According to the message, four PKK terrorists were neutralised in the Gara region, while one was killed in Hakurk.

Turkish Forces remain committed to their ongoing efforts to combat the PKK and secure the region.

In recent years, Türkiye has carried out military operations against PKK militants both within its own borders and across the border into northern Iraq and northern Syria. These actions are aimed at neutralising PKK fighters and preventing them from using these areas as safe havens for launching attacks against Türkiye.

Operation Peace Spring, which began in October 2019, targeted the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is primarily composed of the Kurdish YPG (People's Protection Units), an affiliate of the PKK. Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist organisation due to its connections with the PKK and has sought to counter its influence along its southern border.

The Turkish military's operations in northern Iraq and Syria are part of broader efforts to bolster Türkiye's national security by tackling Kurdish militant groups that it perceives as a threat.