Turkish soldier killed in clashes in N. Iraq
Jun 22, 2024
Ankara [Türkiye], June 22: A Turkish soldier was killed in clashes with "terrorists" in northern Iraq on Friday, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
In a statement, the ministry said an infantryman, identified as Mehmet Ali Horoz, died in an engagement with "terrorists" while participating in search and sweep operations in the "Operation Claw-Lock" region.
The statement didn't specify the affiliation of the "terrorists" but noted that three "terrorists" were "neutralized" during the clashes.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.
The Turkish government launched "Operation Claw-Lock" in April 2022 to fight the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq near the Turkish border.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
On March 14, Türkiye and Iraq said they had reached a landmark deal to tackle the security threat posed by the PKK, and Baghdad labeled the group a "banned organization."
Source: Xinhua
