ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Turkish soldier was killed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Duhok province on Saturday, Turkey’s defense ministry announced, the latest fatality in a deadly winter in the decades-long conflict.
The ministry said PKK fighters “attempted to infiltrate our base area” in what it calls the Claw-Lock Operation region. Private Salih Ay was killed in the ensuing clash and another Turkish soldier was injured and is now being treated in hospital.
Six PKK fighters were killed in the clash, according to the ministry.
This is at least the second Turkish soldier killed in the Kurdistan Region this month. Another five were killed in January and 12 in December.
Turkey’s Claw-Lock Operation is part of a series of military offensives that started in 2019 against the PKK in northern Duhok province to eradicate the group in its bases in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains. Turkish forces have built dozens of outposts within the Kurdistan Region’s borders during its operations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said he expects his forces will have “largely completed fortifications” in northern Duhok this summer, “allowing us to take far more effective measures.”
The PKK’s armed wing on Saturday said it carried out a successful operation against Turkish forces in northern Duhok, seizing weapons and burning tents and supplies. “The hill where the enemy forces were positioned was conquered and completely cleared of the invaders,” read a PKK statement published by its affiliated ANF News.
The ministry said PKK fighters “attempted to infiltrate our base area” in what it calls the Claw-Lock Operation region. Private Salih Ay was killed in the ensuing clash and another Turkish soldier was injured and is now being treated in hospital.
Six PKK fighters were killed in the clash, according to the ministry.
This is at least the second Turkish soldier killed in the Kurdistan Region this month. Another five were killed in January and 12 in December.
Turkey’s Claw-Lock Operation is part of a series of military offensives that started in 2019 against the PKK in northern Duhok province to eradicate the group in its bases in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains. Turkish forces have built dozens of outposts within the Kurdistan Region’s borders during its operations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said he expects his forces will have “largely completed fortifications” in northern Duhok this summer, “allowing us to take far more effective measures.”
The PKK’s armed wing on Saturday said it carried out a successful operation against Turkish forces in northern Duhok, seizing weapons and burning tents and supplies. “The hill where the enemy forces were positioned was conquered and completely cleared of the invaders,” read a PKK statement published by its affiliated ANF News.
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