UPDATE 3 - Turkish jets hit 89 PKK terrorist targets in Iraqi, Syrian border regions

UPDATES WITH TURKISH NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY'S STATEMENT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK; CHANGES THROUGHOUT

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye hit almost 90 YPG/PKK terror targets during air raids in northern regions of Iraq and Syria, near the Turkish border, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"With Operation Claw-Sword, 89 terror targets – 81 targets in the first stage and eight others this morning – including shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots, and so-called headquarters and training camps belonging to terrorists, who threaten our country, nation and border security, were destroyed," said a ministry statement.

The statement came after Türkiye early Sunday launched Operation Claw-Sword, a cross-border aerial campaign against the terrorist group YPG/PKK in northern Iraq and Syria. The ministry said the operation was carried out in line with the right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The terrorist YPG/PKK and PKK have illegal hideouts across the border where they plan attacks on Turkish soil.

Nearly 70 aircraft, including armed drones, took part in the operation. The warplanes took off from six different bases across Türkiye and carried out simultaneous operations against the terror targets.

Türkiye carried out a "successful operation" in the Qandil, Asos, and Hakurk regions of northern Iraq and the Arab Spring, Tal Rifat, Jazira, and Derik regions of northern Syria, it added.

While Ayn al-Arab in northern Syria was hit for the first time in an air operation, the Turkish Armed Forces simultaneously struck targets in Asos, 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the border, and Qandil, 90 km (56 mi) from the border, in northern Iraq.

"Among the terrorists neutralized in the air operation were so-called leaders of the terrorist group," the ministry also said. The operation came after last Sunday's terror attack on Istanbul's crowded Istiklal Avenue that killed at least six people and left 81 injured.

It was carried out to eliminate terrorist attacks against Turkish people and security forces from northern areas of Iraq and Syria, and to ensure Türkiye's border security, the ministry said.

"After the operation, in which mostly domestic and national ammunition was used, all of our aircraft returned safely to their bases," it added.

- Türkiye will continue to hold terrorists accountable: Defense minister

Türkiye will determinedly continue the fight against terrorism for the security of the country and nation until the last terrorist is neutralized, the ministry stressed.

Earlier, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Türkiye will continue to hold accountable those who threaten its security.

"Our aim is to ensure the security of our 85 million citizens and our borders, and to respond to any treacherous attack on our country," Akar said.

He stressed that only terrorists and hideouts belonging to the terrorists were targeted, saying: "The claw of our Turkish Armed Forces was once again on the terrorists."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the start of the air operation upon his return from Indonesia, where he attended a G-20 summit.

The ministry also marked World Children's Day, saying: "Even though there are those who do not want to see it, the terrorist organization PKK/YPG continues to brutally murder babies and children in this region."

The ministry shared footage on Twitter showing Turkish soldiers writing the names of Istiklal Avenue victims – 9-year-old Ecrin and 15-year-old Yagmur – on bombs used to hit terrorist targets during the operation.

"They separated Ecrin and Yagmur, the sweetest in the world, from us. We will continue to hold the child killers accountable!" the ministry said.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the terror group's Syrian offshoot.