UPDATE - Turkish intel ‘neutralizes’ senior member of PKK terror group in northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS BY TURKISH NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY ON MORE TERRORISTS BEING NEUTRALIZED BY TURKISH SECURITY FORCES

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Thursday “neutralized” a senior ringleader of the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, according to Turkish defense sources.

Mehmet Dogan was neutralized by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) during counter-terror operations, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, to hide out and plan attacks on Türkiye.

Separately, in northern Syria, near the Turkish-Syrian border, 11 members of the terrorist PKK/YPG were also neutralized by Turkish security forces.

The Turkish Armed Forces took down the terrorists after they opened harassment fire on Turkish soldiers in the Operation Peace Spring zone, an area Turkish forces cleared and patrols for terrorist elements.

“We continue to give the inevitable end to terrorists who opened harassment fire,” said the National Defense Ministry on Twitter.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

Meanwhile, Turkish soldiers also neutralized another five PKK terror members in northern Iraq in Operation Claw-Lock zone.

“Neither northern Syria nor northern Iraq are safe for terrorists,” said the ministry in another statement on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last month to target PKK hideouts in northern Iraq’s Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions. It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were launched in 2020 to root out terrorists who hide in northern Iraq and plot 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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.