Turkish safety forces eradicated eight terrorists in cross-border operations in northern Syria and northern Iraq, the Turkish Nationwide Protection Ministry stated on Sunday.
In a press release on X, the ministry stated that 5 PKK terrorists have been “neutralized” in an air operation within the Claw-Lock Operation Zone.
Turkish authorities use the time period “neutralize” to indicate the terrorists in query surrendered or have been killed or captured. PKK/YPG terrorists cover close to the Turkish border in northern Syria, the place they plan or stage assaults on locals and close by settlements in Türkiye.
“Our operations in opposition to the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq proceed with out slowing down,” the ministry added.
Individually, it reported 605 terrorists have been eradicated as far as a part of the operation.
A complete of 670 caves and shelters utilized by the terrorist group have been rendered unusable, seizing a complete of 1,343 weapons and 706,650 ammunition, the ministry stated.
As well as, 2,284 mines and handmade explosives set by terrorists within the area have been destroyed.
Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to focus on the PKK terror group’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan areas close to 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 assaults in Türkiye.
In a separate assertion, the ministry stated that safety forces eradicated three PKK/YPG terrorists within the Operation Peace Spring Zone.
It stated they may proceed to take motion in opposition to PKK/YPG terrorists, whose “solely purpose is to shed blood within the area.”
Türkiye has neutralized over 1,200 PKK/YPG terrorists for the reason that starting of this yr, together with these hiding out throughout the border in Iraq and northern Syria, the Nationwide Protection Ministry stated Thursday.
Since January, 317 incidents and assaults have been carried out by the PKK/YPG terrorist group in areas of Türkiye’s counterterrorism operations, and 926 terrorists have been “neutralized” with the quick response of Turkish troopers, based on a ministry official.
Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of profitable anti-terror operations throughout its border in northern Syria to forestall the formation of a terror hall and allow the peaceable settlement of residents: Euphrates Defend (2016), Olive Department (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).
In its over 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU – has been liable for the deaths of over 40,000 individuals, together with girls, youngsters and infants.