Turkey claims ‘neutralization’ of 30 PKK fighters in Operation Claw-Lock
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Turkish Defense Ministry on Saturday announced that 30 PKK fighters were “neutralized” as part of Operation Claw-Lock in the Kurdistan Region, according to a post by the ministry on the recently rebranded social media platform known as X.
“Minister Yaşar Güler received information about the latest situation in the Operation Claw-Lock region and gave instructions regarding the operations,” the post read.
Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler, Pençe-Kilit Operasyonu bölgesinde yaralanan askerlerimizi ziyaretinin ardından beraberindeki TSK Komuta Kademesi ile 23’üncü Piyade Tümen Komutanlığına geçti. Askerî törenle karşılanan Bakan Yaşar Güler, inceleme ve denetlemelerde bulundu.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) December 24, 2023
Daha… pic.twitter.com/f62ZFqJ1Ax
Earlier on Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that five Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and People's Defense Units (YPG) fighters were “neutralized” in northeastern Syria as part of its Euphrates Shield campaign.
Turkey does not distinguish between the PKK or the YPG, which is part of the parent Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) group, considering both the YPG and SDF to be offshoots of the militant group, and thus adding casualties from the latter to its tally of PKK casualties.
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Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that six more Turkish soldiers were killed in the ongoing conflict with the PKK, equaling a total of 12 Turkish soldier deaths in a 48-hour period.
Ankara has launched several ground operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region’s mountainous areas since 2021.
Tens of thousands have been killed on both sides in armed conflict since the mid-80s.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, Turkey, and the EU, among other countries.
Editing by Dastan Muwaffaq