SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Turkish military has launched a cross-border operation targeting suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region, Turkey’s defense ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, the Turkish defense ministry said the operation focused on the regions of Metina, Zap and Avasin-Baysan.
Turkish warplanes, helicopters, drones, commandos and special forces participated in the air and land operation, dubbed “Operation Claw Lock”.
“Our operation is continuing successfully as planned,” the state-owned Anadolu news agency quoted Defense Minister Hulusi Akar as saying. “The targets identified in the first phase have been captured.”
The operation aims to “prevent terror attacks” and ensure border security following an assessment that the PKK was planning a large-scale attack, the ministry added.
Artillery also fired on militant targets in the military action, it said.
Turkey regularly launches air strikes into the Kurdistan Region, a region into which it has repeatedly sent commandos, to support its offensives.
Reuters cited officials as saying they believe the Iraqi government is firmly on their side in fighting the PKK.
There was no immediate comment from the federal government.
On Sunday, Esta Media Network reporter said Turkish fighter jets had carried out airstrikes 50 times against targets in the foothills of Kurazhar mountain in Duhok province in the last 24 hours.
On Thursday, several vehicles and houses of civilians were damaged due to a Turkish strike on Hirure village in Amedi, northeast of Duhok.
A 20-year-old man was shot dead by the Turkish forces stationed in Bradost region in northeast of Erbil on Saturday.
On Thursday, several vehicles and houses of civilians were damaged due to a Turkish strike on Hirure village in Amedi, northeast of Duhok.
The Turkish military has established dozens of military points and bases in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province.
