Turkiye 'neutralizes' 10 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye has "neutralized" 10 more PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Turkish National Defense Ministry reported on Sunday.

"We continue to put locks on the nests of terror," the ministry said on Twitter. The terrorists were neutralized by Turkish forces under the country's Operation Claw-Lock, raising the total to 95.

The ministry added that the 10 terrorists were neutralized by fire-support vehicles.

Turkiye has launched successive operations against the PKK in northern Iraq since 2020, most recently starting Operation Claw-Lock in April to target PKK hideouts in Iraq's Metina region.

That was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Turkiye.

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 Turkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.