UPDATE 2 - 4 Turkish soldiers killed in northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH SOLDIER SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir and Ahmet Sertan Usul

ANKARA (AA) - Four Turkish soldiers were killed in northern Iraq where the army launched a military operation to clear the area of terror elements, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

Infantry Specialist Sgt. Harun Yildirim and Infantry Specialist Sgt. Savas Borlu were killed during clashes with the terrorist group in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said on Twitter.

Later, the ministry said that two of the four injured soldiers, Command Sgt. Major Gokhan Agil and Infantry Specialist Sgt. Fatih Kalkan died at the hospital.

The operation in the region is ongoing, the statement added.

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.