[ DW ] Turkey launches new offensive against Kurdish militants in Iraq
The offensive is part of Turkey’s campaign in Iraq and Syria against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.
Turkey launched a new cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq early Monday.
Turkish warplanes, helicopters and drones hit Kurdish militant targets, camps, tunnels, shelters, and ammunition storage areas in northern Iraq, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
“Until now, our operation is continuing successfully as planned. The targets identified in the first phase have been captured,” he said, but did not provide any information on casualties resulting from the operation.
Turkish jets and artillery struck targets belonging to Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. The group maintains bases in northern Iraq and has used the territory for attacks on Turkey.
Turkey’s crackdown on PKK militants has gone hand in hand with a crackdown on the broader Kurdish movement, including the imprisonment of political leaders and the attempted ban of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP).
The operation, dubbed “Operation Claw Lock,” aimed to “prevent terror attacks” and “ensure our border security.” It was also supported by artillery units, Akar said.
The operation targeted Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq. It also included commandos who have “entered the region by infiltration from land,” according to the minister.