Published February 25,2023
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Turkish safety forces have “neutralized” 261 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria since Jan. 1, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated on Saturday.
“We have demolished terror nests, lairs, and shelters of terrorists, and we will continue to destroy them,” Akar advised commanders throughout a video convention within the southern Kilis province.
He reiterated that Türkiye respects the borders and sovereignty of its neighbors, particularly Iraq and Syria, and isn’t eyeing “anyone’s land in any way.”
“We are working to ensure the security of our borders and our 85 million citizens. We have no other purpose,” he asserted.
A complete of 532 terrorists have been neutralized since Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock final April, Akar added.
The cross-border anti-terrorism offensive has targeted on the PKK terror group’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan areas, close to the Turkish border.
“The 302-kilometer (187-mile) line along the Iraqi border, which is difficult to monitor and control, was largely cleared of terrorists and taken under control,” stated Akar.
Operation Claw-Lock was preceded by two operations-Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle-launched in 2020.
In its greater than 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK-listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S., and EU-has been answerable for the deaths of greater than 40,000 folks, together with ladies, kids, and infants.
QUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS
Akar stated greater than 40,000 troopers, together with 57 battalions and 100 search and rescue groups, specialists and technical personnel, are working in quake-hit areas in southern Türkiye.
A complete of two,368 search and rescue personnel, together with 29 canine items, rescued 326 folks after the devastating Feb. 6 quakes, he added.
The magnitude 7.7 and seven.6 quakes had been centered in Kahramanmaraş and struck 10 different provinces-Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa.
They have affected greater than 13 million folks, whereas the demise toll is now over 44,200.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
