Turkish soldier killed in northern Iraq

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish soldier was killed in a terror attack in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, authorities said on Monday.

Huseyin Korkmaz was killed when terrorists opened harassing fire in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry extended its condolences to Korkmaz's family, 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 out 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.