Turkish soldier succumbs to his injuries in northern Iraq

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish soldier died Thursday from injuries he sustained in a clash with PKK terrorists during Türkiye’s cross-border anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said.

Staff Sergeant Batuhan Simsek was seriously wounded when terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock region opened harassing fire on Turkish soldiers, the ministry said in a statement.

The soldier, who was taken to a hospital, could not be saved despite all medical interventions, it added.

The ministry also extended its condolences to Simsek’s family and the Turkish nation.

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

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were 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 the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.