UPDATE - 2 Turkish soldiers killed during anti-terror operation in N.Iraq

UPDATES WITH ANOTHER TURKISH SOLDIER KILLED; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE; ADDS MORE BACKGROUND

By Burak Bir and Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - Two 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 Monday.

Infantry Specialist Sgt. Serhat Bal was killed after PKK terrorists opened fire in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, according to the ministry.

Also, another infantry specialist, Sgt. Enes Ozgul died on Monday of injuries from the PKK terrorists' fire on June 21 in the operation zone, the ministry said.

The ministry conveyed condolences to the families of Bal and Ozgul as well as the Turkish Armed Forces and the 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.

Meanwhile, two more PKK/YPG terrorists, who opened fire at Turkish soldiers, were also “neutralized” by the Turkish security forces in the Operation Euphrates Shield zone in northern Syria.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" 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, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

The YPG is the PKK terror group's Syrian offshoot.