Terrorists: purported members and supporters of the Kurdistan Workers Party and anyone in their vicinity. Neutralize: kill.

Hurriyet Daily News
April 18, 2022

Turkey launches major offensive into PKK targets in Northern Iraq

The Turkish army has launched a major offensive against PKK hideouts and targets in northern Iraq…the Defense Ministry has announced, informing that many terrorists were neutralized and their structures were hit as a preliminary result of the military operation.

The “Operation Claw Lock” was launched by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the early hours of April 18 with airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets in Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions in northern Iraq, where PKK has its training camps and other hideouts. The operation aims to neutralize [Kurds] and destroy their structures….

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“As of now, all of the planned targets have been achieved. A large number of [Kurds] have been neutralized,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement on April 18 as the operation continued with the participation of Special Forces and commandos on the ground.

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“Our activities will continue determinately until the last [Kurdish resistance fighter] is neutralized…,” he noted.

In a separate statement, the Defense Ministry stressed that the operation was pursued, with the coordination of Turkey’s friends and allies, without detailing them. The military mostly used nationally developed equipment and ammunition during the operation, it added.

More than 50 targets were hit during the operation.

The Turkish army has long been conducting cross-border operations into northern Iraq under the “Operation Claw Lock,” but this current “Claw Lock” constitutes the biggest one of this series.

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Azeri Press Agency
April 18, 2022

4 Turkish servicemen injured in N Iraq

Turkish servicemen [killed] 19 [Kurds] in the north of Iraq within the framework of “Penche Kilit” anti-terror operation, said the Turkish National Defence Ministry, APA reports.

During an anti-terror operation, 4 servicemen of Turkish army were injured.