UPDATE - 2 Turkish soldiers martyred in northern Iraq

UPDATES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS STATEMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY

By Ozcan Yildirim and Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Two Turkish soldiers were martyred during a cross-border anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said in a statement that one soldier was martyred on Monday in a clash with terrorists as part of Operation Pence-Yildirim, while another one was wounded in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED). He later on succumbed to his wounds in the hospital, the statement added.

"We wish Allah's mercy upon our heroic martyr, our condolences and patience to his precious family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the nation," the ministry said in two separate statements.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in a statement on Twitter extended his condolences. "We bury you in our hearts, not in the ground. Homeland is grateful to you," he said.

So far, three Turkish soldiers have been martyred in Operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim.

A large number of weapons and ammunition was also seized by Turkish security forces during the two operations on Monday.

Additionally, Turkish security forces destroyed a cave used by PKK terrorists during the operations.

Turkey on Friday launched Operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim in northern Iraq’s Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions near Turkey’s borders.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the operation aims to completely eliminate the terrorist threat along Turkey’s southern borders.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The PKK terrorist group often uses bases in northern Iraq just across Turkey’s southern border to hide and plot terrorist attacks in Turkey.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.