ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Duhok province came under intense Turkish bombardment Friday night with Turkish troops rappelling into the area from helicopters, according to media affiliated with the group. Clashes have continued and expanded on Saturday.
Using Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters, Turkish forces attacked the PKK in Avashin and Metina areas near Duhok’s border with Turkey, the PKK-affiliated Roj News reported early Saturday, adding that Turkish troops rappelled in from helicopters.
The PKK responded to the attack, killing and injuring a large number of soldiers, according to Roj News. The fighting continued Saturday morning.
A senior security official in Duhok, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Rudaw’s Nasr Ali that Turkey bombed Zinare Kesta and nearby villages in the Metina area on Friday evening, between six and nine. Turkish forces were dropped into the area by helicopter while four F-16 fighter jets bombed alleged PKK position.
The source said the PKK fought back, but were not able to prevent the advance of Turkish forces, who set up camp in the area.
PKK’s armed wing, HPG, said their forces have been under attack in Metina, Avashin, and Zap areas since yesterday. They claimed to have killed scored of soldiers and forced helicopters to withdraw.
The area is a strategic one, located 2,300 metres above sea level near the border with Turkey, according to the source. Turkish forces tried to seize it last year, but failed.
"The heroic Turkish Armed Forces, heroic commandos are in Northern Iraq," the Turkish Defense Ministry tweeted later in the day, calling the announcing Operation Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt.
Media close to the government reported fighter jets and T-129 ATAK helicopters were used to “heavily” target PKK positions in the Metina area, “neutralizing” scores of PKK fighters. The Turkish government and media use the word “neutralize” to denote death, injury, or capture of its adversaries.
State-owned TRT Haber reported that Turkish forces have struck the PKK in several places since last night, but the focus is Metina, using ten F-16 jets and at least ten ATAK helicopters.
Turkey has also begun bombing the Zap area to the east of Metina and Avashin, according to Roj News.
The Turkish defense ministry on Friday claimed it “neutralized” three PKK fighters in a bombardment on Mount Gara.
The PKK is an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. It is considered a terror organization by Ankara. Turkey frequently bombards alleged PKK positions on both sides of the border.
Updated at 3:31 pm
