Two Turkish soldiers killed by IED in northern Iraq

Turkey’s Defense Ministry has announced that two of its soldiers were killed in an attack in northern Iraq by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

According to Press TV, the Turkish ministry said in statement released on Monday the soldiers died after an improvised explosive device (IED) "placed by PKK separatist terrorists exploded as a supply convoy was passing."

Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out vast counter-terrorism operations against PKK bases in northern Iraq, southeast Turkey and northern Syria.

The US has been arming and training the Kurdish militants under the banner of helping them fight Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Syria and several other countries see ulterior motives behind US support.

Turkey, a key US ally in the region, has repeatedly questioned Washington’s arming and training of the Kurds.

Since May, Turkish soldiers have been conducting military operations against the PKK militants in Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Earlier this year in July and August, Turkish forces killed two high-ranking PKK members in separate counter-terrorism operations in the semi-autonomous region.

Ismail Ozden, better known by the nom de guerre Mam Zeki Sengali, was “neutralized” during an offensive in the Kurdish-populated town of Sinjar.

Diyar Garip Muhammed, known by the nom de guerre Halmat Diyar, was killed in an offensive in the remote Qandil Mountains, where the PKK headquarters and rear bases are located.

Turkish sources said Muhammed had been a member of the so-called executive council of the PKK, and its umbrella group, the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK).

ME