Turkish soldier killed during anti-terror operation in northern Iraq

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish soldier was killed in northern Iraq where the Turkish army launched a military operation to rid the area of terror elements, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

A total of three Turkish soldiers were injured due to harassing fire opened by PKK terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said in a statement.

Infantry Specialist Sergeant Muhammed Mustafa Koca succumbed to his wounds at the hospital, the statement added.

The ministry expressed condolences to Koca’s family, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish nation.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 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 in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-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.