Türkiye neutralises 3 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

Turkish security forces "neutralised" three PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, Türkiye's National Defense Ministry announced on January 23.

The ministry said on X that the terrorists "identified in the Operation Claw region in northern Iraq were neutralised," Anadolu reports.

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

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding out in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

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

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, UK, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Pençe Operasyonu bölgesinde tespit edilen 3 PKK’lı terörist etkisiz hâle getirildi.

Her nerede olursa olsun terör örgütü PKK ile mücadelemiz en son terörist etkisiz hâle getirilinceye kadar devam edecek!#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/BTO3IDOUTb

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 24, 2024