The Turkish Ministry of Defense has confirmed the death of five soldiers and the injury of eight others, three of them in critical condition, during the ongoing “Operation Claw-Lock” in Northern Iraq.
The casualties resulted from an attack by militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organization. In response, Turkish forces conducted a counter-operation, resulting in the death of 12 PKK members.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the Ministry detailed that clashes erupted with a group of terrorists (PKK members) who attempted to infiltrate a base in the “Operation Claw-Lock” area.
This led to the death of five Turkish soldiers and injuries to eight others, with three in serious condition. The wounded were transported to a hospital for immediate treatment.
The statement further indicated that according to preliminary results, 12 terrorists were neutralized (killed) during the clashes, and operations are still ongoing in the region.
It is noteworthy that on December 23 last year, 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in two separate attacks by the PKK in the “Operation Claw-Lock” zone, which has been active since April of the previous year.
In retaliation, the Turkish army launched intensive air operations in northern Syria and Iraq, targeting PKK positions, infrastructure facilities, and energy stations in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Turkish forces and the PKK, a long-standing issue in the region.
The Turkish government continues to take a firm stance against the PKK and its affiliates, as demonstrated by its ongoing military operations in Northern Iraq and Syria.
The situation remains tense, and further developments are closely monitored by regional and international observers.
