Turkey has launched a fresh cross-border anti-terror operation against the PKK terrorist group’s hideouts in northern Iraq, the country’s national defense minister said Monday.
Operation Claw-Lock, in which commando and special forces teams are taking part supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), attack helicopters and artillery elements, is particularly targeting the Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan areas, said Hulusi Akar.
In these areas, shelters, ammunition depots, headquarters, gathering locations and tunnel networks are being destroyed, he said.
Meanwhile, the National Defense Ministry noted that the operation was launched after it was determined that the terrorist group was planning to initiate a large-scale attack.
The operation is in line with the UN Charter's principle of self-defense, the ministry said.
Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter that Turkey remains resolute to continue its struggle against the terror group and its sponsors, both within and beyond its borders.
