Claw Lock Operation: Turkey to move its forces forward into the Iraqi territory

Shafaq News/ As part of the Claw Lock Operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Turkish forces would advance deeply into the Iraqi territory.

The "Star" Newspaper (Star Gazetesi) reported on Tuesday that the main tasks of the military Operation were completed. Still, the Turkish Army plans to deploy temporarily in northern Iraq to control the area and would not withdraw from Iraqi territory before "removing all the threats."

The Turkish forces would move 50-60 km depth into Iraqi territory as part of its Operation. The Newspaper added.

Meanwhile, the Sabah Turkish newspaper revealed that about 3,000 PKK fighters were located in the Qandil area before launching the Claw Lock Operation, according to the Turkish Army's data.

Yesterday, Ankara's Defense Ministry said that the Turkish security forces have "neutralized" 56 terrorists in the recently launched Operation in northern Iraq.

"Our Operation continues as planned with great success. We wish God's mercy upon our martyrs," said National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar at a meeting via video link with the unit commanders of the Operation on Sunday.

Akar added that the first phase of the operation had been completed successfully.

A new phase started in the fight against terrorism on July 24, 2015. Akar said 34,259 terrorists had been neutralized in Turkey, northern Iraq, and Syria.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Operation Claw Lock against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq follows international law.

Speaking in a press conference, Erdogan said, "the Turkish operations against terrorists abroad (in Iraq), based on its belief that saving its security starts from outside its borders," and "to cleanse the Zab area completely."

"so far, we neutralized about 1,000 terrorists on the southern border in 2022." He added.

The Turkish president pointed out that these operations were carried out according to international law, including the U.N. Charter.

"Turkey has the strength, will, and firmness to protect its security, and it will not allow any terrorist to find a corridor on its southern borders."

Last week, Ankara launched an action called "Operation Claw Lock" to "prevent terror attacks" and ensure border security following an assessment that the PKK was planning a large-scale attack.

Turkey regularly launches air strikes into northern Iraq, a region where it has repeatedly sent commandos to support its offensives.

In 2020, Turkey launched operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle in the border regions of northern Iraq to "ensure the safety of the Turkish people and frontiers."

The PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which in the past was mainly focused on southeast Turkey.

PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.