ANKARA 

Turkish security forces “neutralized” nine PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

Turkish soldiers targeted the terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, the ministry said in a written statement, adding: “We continue to shut the terror nests.”

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April to target the PKK terror organization’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions, near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, UK and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.