SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Turkey has launched an operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in areas in northeast of Duhok on Wednesday, the Turkish defense ministry said.
In a statement, the Turkish defense ministry said its forces had carried out “Operation Claw-Eagle 2” against the PKK in areas near Gara Mountain at 02:55 a.m. on Wednesday.
The mountain is located 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Duhok with a peak that reaches 2,150 meters above sea level.
“In line with our legitimate defense rights arising from international law in order to neutralize the PKK/KCK and other terrorist elements and to element the terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from northern Iraq and to ensure our border security, Operation Claw-Eagle 2 was launched at 02:55 a.m. on February 10,” the ministry said.
“The operation continues,” the Turkish defense ministry added.
The ministry also said the PKK continued to establish “shelter places and positions and prepare for a large-scale attack” in northern Iraq.
Firat news agency (ANF) reported that the Turkish military had deployed troops to Gara Mountain after it bombed several areas near the mountain.
“Clashes continue between the guerrillas and Turkish forces in the area,” AFP said.
Ankara intermittently carries out airstrikes and artillery shelling against suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on the Kurdistan Region’s border areas with Turkey and Iran.
Turkey has conducted numerous ground and aerial cross-border offensives into neighboring northern Iraq to attack PKK fighters, who maintains bases in the region.
The operation came after Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar paid a visit to Baghdad and Erbil in January.
“Cooperation and coordination against the PKK terrorist group play a very important role. We are ready for every possible coordination with Iraq,” Akar said.
