Three Turkish soldiers killed in northern Iraq

At least three Turkish soldiers have been killed during a new offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, Turkey’s Defense Ministry says.

According to reports, the ministry said on Thursday that two Turkish soldiers were killed and two others injured Wednesday in clashes with the terrorists.

Another soldier was killed on Thursday, said the ministry, without proving casualty figures for the PKK. 

Turkey on Wednesday launched operation "Claw-Eagle 2" against the PKK terrorists holed up in the northern Iraqi region of Dohuk.

The country launched its first "Claw-Eagle" operation in June.

Last month, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited the Iraqi capital Baghdad and northern Iraq where he said Turkey intended to eliminate PKK attacks in the region to ensure border security.

The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids on PKK bases in Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

In recent years, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out vast operations in northern Iraq, southeast Turkey and northern Syria. The attacks have triggered protests from Baghdad and Damascus which consider them a violation of their sovereignty. 

More than 40,000 people have been killed in the decades-long conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish militant group.

A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.

SS