UPDATE - Turkish military helicopter crashes in northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH DEATH OF TURKISH SOLDIER, CHANGES DECK

By Cankut Tasdan and Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish military helicopter crashed in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said early on Monday.

Seven of the eight personnel on board were rescued, while a search operation is underway for the remaining individual, the ministry said in a statement.

The Sikorsky helicopter was on a supply mission and had to make a hard landing in the Operation Claw-Lock region due to “technical reasons,” the statement added.

Later, the ministry said infantry sergeant Umit Kesti was killed in the crash.

"We wish Allah's mercy on our martyr, who lost his life in this incident that left us with deep pain and sadness, we express our condolences and patience to his sad family, Turkish Armed Forces and our noble nation," it 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 initiated after Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.