PKK killing of Turkish citizens ‘deeply troubling’

BRUSSELS

The European Union on Monday expressed condolences over the killing of 13 Turkish citizens by the terror group PKK.

“We have seen deeply troubling reports about the killing of 13 Turkish citizens by the PKK – a designated terrorist organisation – in northern Iraq last week,” Peter Stano, EU Commission spokesperson, told Anadolu Agency.

“We would like to offer our condolences to the Turkish people and express our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims,” he added.

The Turkish nationals, who had been held captive for several years by the PKK, were executed by the group in Gara, northern Iraq over the weekend, during Turkey’s anti-terror operation in the region.

Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle began last June to ensure the safety of people and Turkey's borders.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Busra Nur Cakmak