SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Turkish defense ministry said on Monday it had carried out the cross-border operation in the Kurdistan Region in cooperation with Turkey’s “friends and allies”.
Earlier, the Turkish defense ministry announced a new cross-border operation, dubbed “Operation Claw Lock”, against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in Metina, Zap and Avasin-Baysan.
Turkish warplanes, helicopters, drones, commandos and special forces participated in the air and land operation, according to the ministry.
It stressed that the operation was “carried out in coordination with our friends and allies”, without giving further details.
The operation came a few days after Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.
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.
In a separate statement, the Turkish defense ministry said four soldiers were wounded in the operation while 19 “terrorists” were neutralized.
Turkey regularly launches air strikes into the Kurdistan Region, a region into which it has repeatedly sent commandos, to support its offensives.
