Türkiye Neutralizes Seven PKK/YPG Terrorists in Northern Iraq and Syria

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye’s National Defence Ministry has confirmed the successful neutralization of seven PKK/YPG terrorists in operations conducted in northern Iraq and Syria.

According to the ministry’s statement released on Sunday, the Turkish Armed Forces, in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, neutralized three PKK/YPG terrorists within the Euphrates Shield and Peace Spring zones in northern Syria. Additionally, four PKK terrorists were neutralized in the Operation Claw-Lock zone in northern Iraq.

Operation Claw-Lock, initiated by Türkiye in 2022, specifically targets PKK hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq. The PKK, a designated terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU, has long utilized these areas near the Turkish border for planning and executing terror activities, including attacks within Türkiye and against local populations in northern Syria.

Since 2016, Türkiye has conducted a series of successful anti-terror operations across its borders in northern Syria, including Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019). These operations aim to prevent the establishment of a terror corridor and ensure the safety and stability of residents in the region.

The PKK’s decades-long terror campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people in Türkiye, including women, children, and infants. The YPG, recognized as the Syrian branch of the PKK, continues to pose a threat to regional security and stability.