(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Turkey's new ground and air military operation 'Claw-Lock'
against the PKK terrorist group in northern Iraq targets the
terrorists in the Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions. The Zap
region is significant as a central point between several areas
hosting PKK headquarters, camps, terrorists and senior figures,
Trend reports citing
Daily
Sabah .
Turkish jets and artillery struck suspected PKK targets.
Commando troops supported by helicopters and drones then crossed
into the region by land or were airlifted by helicopters, Defense
Minister Hulusi Akar said in a video posted on the ministry's
website.
Akar said the jets successfully struck shelters, bunkers, caves,
tunnels, ammunition depots and headquarters belonging to the
PKK.
The group maintains bases in northern Iraq and has used the
territory for attacks on Turkey. Turkey has conducted numerous
cross-border aerial and ground operations against the PKK over the
past decades.
The scourge of terrorism, which has plagued Turkey for years, is
gradually being destroyed with the determination of the political
will and the dedication of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The PKK
and its affiliates, which were heavily damaged with the Euphrates
Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and Spring Shield operations
carried out in northern Syria and the domestic Eren Operations
within the country, also lost strength with the Claw Operations in
northern Iraq. The last exit door of the terrorists, who had no
hole to escape, was closed with the Claw-Lock Operation carried out
against the Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions.
The Zap region is in the center of the areas where the terrorist
organization is nesting. With the operation launched in the region
where some so-called ringleaders of the terrorist organization are
located, significant psychological damage was inflicted on the
terrorist organization.
It is noteworthy that the region is the area where terrorists
fleeing from Hakurk, Metina, as part of the Claw series operations,
gather. While the places where terrorists could enter Turkey from
the north of Iraq were taken under control, one by one, with the
Claw operations; with Operation Claw-Lock, hopes of crossing the
only leak site, the Zap, were thwarted.
The region is also important in that it is the place where the
terrorist organization's camps were previously located.
The new operation comes on the heels of Operations Claw-Tiger
and Claw-Eagle launched by the Turkish army in northern Iraq in
2020. Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle began in border regions
of northern Iraq in 2020 to ensure the safety of the Turkish people
and frontiers.
The ministry noted that the operation dealt a heavy blow to the
PKK presence in the region. In a later statement, the ministry
noted that the operation continues with success and that Turkish
soldiers have started taking control of the region. At least 19
terrorists were killed in the operation, the ministry said, adding
that they believe the number is expected to rise after examination
of the area.
Four Turkish soldiers were injured in the operation and are
currently receiving medical treatment, the ministry added.
'The terrorists need to comprehend that they have nowhere to
hide; they need to surrender as their end has come,' the ministry
said.
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